Countermeasures
In a wide-ranging Executive Order issued this week, President Joe Biden sought to preempt threats posed by the development of artificial intelligence with new safeguards and oversight, while calling on Congress to pass data privacy legislation and enshrine such guardrails permanently.
While AI... Read More »
After an internal memo from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warning that foreign fighters from the Israel-Hamas conflict could be encountered at the southwest border leaked to the press, House Republicans demanded documents and information from Department Secretary Alejandro... Read More »
Although nuclear disarmament and de-escalation has been the focus for years, last week the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) changed course in a proposal to Congress, wherein it sought approval for a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb.
"Today's announcement is reflective of a... Read More »
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced a bill from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) last week that would make the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) update its cost-effectiveness requirements for hazard mitigation grants.
The... Read More »
According to an updated approach released last week by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains focused on the opioid epidemic while reckoning with an ever-changing landscape.
CBP planted its focus firmly around four areas:
... Read More »
With the war between Hamas and Israel dragging attention on Iran once more to the fore, U.S. Reps. French Hill (R-AR) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) reintroduced the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act this week, seeking new means to crackdown on their financial support.
“The Iranian regime has... Read More »
In a new report that urged governmental action, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week found that organized retail crime this year surpassed those in 2022 by 43 percent, and could nearly double it by year’s end.
“The scourge of organized retail crime has become increasingly pervasive, with... Read More »
A collection of six senators this week introduced the Protect Our Bases Act, seeking to require member agencies annually update their lists of sensitive military, intelligence and national lab sites for the review of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
This... Read More »
The United States-Mexico remains a focus of Congressional interest, and the latest offshoot of that emerged this week in the form of the Senate’s Advanced Border Coordination Act, which aims to improve law enforcement communication and coordination.
“From local sheriffs to Border Patrol and... Read More »
With government shutdowns, however brief, becoming more of a regular danger, and exacerbated by the Republican Speaker crisis in the House, several Republican senators introduced the Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act to shield border and customs officers from a shutdown.
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson... Read More »
On Monday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it had renewed updates to security directives that regulate passenger and freight railroad carriers.
The revised directives, part of an effort to enhance the cybersecurity of surface transportation systems and associated... Read More »
In a far-ranging paper on the past, present, and future of nuclear policy and conflict released this week, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) called for a renewed investigation into the effects of nuclear conflict.
Faced with conflicts currently ranging from Ukraine to Israel and threats of... Read More »
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week would streamline eligibility for the H-1B specialty occupation worker program, improve efficiency and institute more benefits and integrity measures.
H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa program... Read More »
A joint effort from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) last week yielded the Hazard Mitigation Projects Act, which would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to simplify requirements surrounding hazard mitigation grants.
“Too often, complex application... Read More »
With the bicameral introduction of the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act (H.R. 5990) last week, supporters seek to allot for a series of new image technicians within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expedite screenings at U.S. ports of entry.
Created by U.S.... Read More »
With an eye on both inbound and outbound cargo, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a request for information (RFI) last week to call up new approaches to targeting illegal cargo and aiding delivery of legitimate cargo.
"Researching and... Read More »
Ohio will become one of five states newly selected by the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit to gain a defense innovation hub, focused on developing and adopting new technologies for national security.
This center, to be placed in the Miami Valley, will be known as the Ohio... Read More »
Real-time, standards-based tests for exchanging supply chain data from three U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborating startups have opened the door for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to begin integrating data from them and their customers.
Companies mesur.io, Neoflow and... Read More »
Following meetings with more than 35 law enforcement and community leaders nationwide, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) this week released recommendations to reverse challenges facing recruitment and retention at law enforcement agencies nationwide.
The causes are many. In its... Read More »
Continuing the Biden administration’s emphasis on equitability, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that investments of $40 million this week would help create four research centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions of higher education.
For recipients selected through... Read More »
Calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a group of representatives led by U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) introduced a resolution this week to recognize an outsized number of suspected terrorists recently seized at the northern border.
This year, Customs and... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a $75 million, five-year recompete task order to KBR this week, placing the company in charge of researching and developing for engineering, new product design and development, logistics and reliability improvements, among others.
"KBR is proud to... Read More »
In a bipartisan showing last week, more than a dozen U.S. senators called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to officially freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets following Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
While Hamas rules over the Gaza Strip, it is long had a close relationship with... Read More »
For a mix of active shooter training, efforts to counter illegal drug trafficking and law enforcement mental health and wellness training, the U.S. Justice Department Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded nearly $75 million to agencies nationwide last week.
While the... Read More »
FEMA opened $1.8 billion in funding to two grant programs this week as part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America Agenda, dangling assistance for communities facing down climate change and the extreme weather it has brought.
Climate resilience is the name of the game, and both the... Read More »
A comprehensive report from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States found that, on examination, the long-term strategic posture of the United States is flagging amid worsening global security, and pointed to looming threats from China and Russia alike.
The... Read More »
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Navy has taken steps to address fatigue in its ranks – an ongoing problem that has plagued its ranks for years, even contributing to fatal ship collisions.
Essentially, this was a follow-up to an analysis conducted in 2021,... Read More »
Although the House remains paralyzed in the face of a Republican rift that has left the Speaker position empty, four representatives crossed the aisle this week to introduce the “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act to buoy Israeli defenses.
The bill followed... Read More »
Following the weekend’s surprise attack on Israel that kicked off a brutal war of reprisals between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced new steps to provide security for the state’s Jewish community.
Fearing the spread of violence to Jewish... Read More »
The U.S. Army awarded a new contract to Lockheed Martin this week that will place the defense contractor in charge of developing up to four 300 kW-class laser weapon systems for a prototype program.
Designated the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) program, that... Read More »
Following weekend attacks by Hamas that caught Israel off guard and launched a declaration of war, the United States reiterated its support for its traditional Middle East ally, as fears of escalation grew.
While Israel now claims its border with Gaza to be secure – three days after a Hamas... Read More »
With more than 300 proposed amendments in hand, the Working Group of Amendments to the IHR undertook a fifth round of discussions over International Health Regulations 2005 last week, setting up a path to a consolidated proposal and further discussions.
Proposed amendments considered by the... Read More »
Detailing a system of kickbacks and bribes, the part owner of New York’s 888 pharmacy Inc. and Huikang Pharmacy Inc. – Dacheng Lu – pled guilty last week in conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by more than $25 million.
Lu pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud – a... Read More »
In a bill that would revise the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and fellow Republicans last week introduced legislation to increase oversight of U.S.-China science and technology agreements (STAs).
Daines joined 12 other Republicans in introducing... Read More »
The U.S. Navy announced last week it would look to Northrop Grumman for a 57mm guided high explosive ammunition to use with its Mk110 Naval Gun Mount.
The new contract award focuses on the testing and maturation of the munition, which poses the capability to keep maneuvering in flight to... Read More »
