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Republican senators request policy shift toward Qatar
A coalition of Republican senators is requesting the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of State to reverse American diplomatic policies toward the state of Qatar. Citing Qatar’s hospitality toward Hamas and Hamas’ role in the killing of several U.S. citizens during the... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee panel urges inclusion of military quality of life provisions in National Defense Authorization
Members of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Quality of Life Panel urged the Senate Armed Services Committee to include their recommendations in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The panel, led by U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (RNE) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), said erosions... Read More »
Two autonomous surveillance towers added in the Big Bend Sector
The U.S. Border Patrol recently deployed two additional autonomous surveillance towers (ASTs) in the Texas Big Bend Sector to improve border security operations. ASTs detect and monitor movement in remote and rugged terrain. Using artificial intelligence, they have the ability to differentiate... Read More »
TSA establishes cyber risk management programs for railroads, pipelines
A new rule proposed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will establish cyber risk management and reporting requirements for pipeline and railroad owners and operators. In a proposed rule published as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the TSA said Wednesday that it would continue... Read More »
Bipartisan efforts seeks to crack down on Iran funding crime in United States
U.S Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced a bipartisan effort to crack down on individuals committing or attempting to commit violent crimes in the United States on behalf of Iran and other foreign adversaries. The Congresswomen said Iran has allegedly paid criminal... Read More »
CISA releases international strategic plan
In a proactive move, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its first comprehensive plan focusing on how the agency will engage international partners to strengthen infrastructure security and resilience. The 2025-2026 International Strategic Plan supports CISA’s... Read More »
Treasury, CFIUS issues rule on real estate transactions around military bases
The U.S. Treasury Department added nearly 60 military installations across the country to the areas over which the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has jurisdiction. CFIUS, working in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense, issued the final rule that expands... Read More »
Bipartisan delegation travels to Middle East amid rising instability concerns
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, recently led a bipartisan delegation to the Middle East amid concerns about rising threats and instability. The Congressional delegation of Cole and U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), John Rutherford (R-FL), Ed Case (D-HI),... Read More »
Federal agencies come together to train first responders on lithium-ion battery risks
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined other agencies this week to train first responders on the safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. In collaboration with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Fire Department of the city of... Read More »
Agreement bolsters national security-focused collaboration on offshore wind development
A new agreement signed Tuesday will ensure offshore wind development does not hinder national security. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will make certain the two agencies collaborate so that offshore... Read More »
U.S. DoD awards Royal Philips with contract for threat exposure algorithm
Royal Philips will accelerate the predictive health monitoring of the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) algorithm for active service personnel now that the U.S. Department of Defense has invested in it. Following a successful development and pilot program, the RATE technology using... Read More »
DOE, NNSA work to mitigate risks of AI, improve national security
A new security memo from the White House on Artificial Intelligence, the first ever released, will galvanize the federal government in its AI National Security mission, officials said. The National Security Memorandum on Artificial Intelligence provides direction on harnessing AI models and... Read More »
Autonomous and networked maritime systems successfully tested by AUKUS
Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) successfully completed tests of several autonomous and networked systems during Autonomous Warrior 24, a three-week series of maritime experiments and exercises, in Australia. "AUKUS partners have long histories of working together on... Read More »
Army awards Raytheon $676M in contracts for TOW weapon system
The U.S. Army has awarded RTX’s Raytheon a $676 million contract to continue manufacturing the TOW weapon system. The tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided TOW system will be in service with the U.S. and allied forces beyond 2050, officials said. The contracts cover two separate... Read More »
Advanced Border Coordination Act would enhance law enforcement at southern border
Members of Congress proposed a bipartisan bill Oct. 22 that aims to strengthen law enforcement operations and collaboration at America’s southern border. “For the safety of our communities, we have to restore the rule of law and secure our borders, and DHS [Department of Homeland Security]... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee Republican request hearing on cyberattacks
On Monday, Republican members of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security requested a hearing from intelligence agencies about the cyberattack by Salt Typhoon on ISPs like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. U.S. Reps. Mark Greene (R-TN), Andrew Garbarina (R-NY), and Laurel Lee (R-FL)... Read More »
McKinsey & Company working for Chinese military, House committee claims
American consulting firm McKinsey & Company is working for the Chinese military and Chinese Communist Party, according to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently shared... Read More »
U.S. senators warn of IV fluid shortage
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) recently asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take action on the nation’s intravenous fluid shortage. In an Oct. 11 letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the senators urged the department to address... Read More »
Raytheon to pay more than $950M to settle foreign bribery charges
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday that Raytheon Company, a subsidiary of RTX, will pay more than $950 million as a result of an investigation into a major government fraud scheme. According to the DOJ, Raytheon will pay the fine and enter into a three-year deferred... Read More »
NNSA launches 25-year blueprint for nuclear security
On Tuesday, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) released its 25-year plan for the Nuclear Security Enterprise. The Enterprise Blueprint will align the delivery of specialized infrastructure with the demands across the nuclear stockpile, global security... Read More »
DHS Joint Task Force authority legislation becomes law
Legislation that would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Joint Task Forces authority was signed into law this month, officials said. The legislation, authored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (R-MI) would allow DHS to establish joint operations using DHS personnel and resources... Read More »
Secret Service holds card skimming and fraud operation in Illinois, Indiana
On Thursday, the U.S. Secret Service joined state and local law enforcement partners in Illinois and Indiana to complete a 2-day payment card skimming and electronic Benefit Transfer fraud operation. The sting save residents an estimated $1.8 million in prevented losses, officials said.... Read More »
Sen. Peters asks DOD Inspector General to add oversight to PFAS remediation efforts in Michigan
On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) asked the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of the Inspector General to add oversight on the department’s efforts to remediate per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Michigan communities. Peters, the chair of the Homeland Security and... Read More »
Alien sexual offenders would be deported under pending federal legislation
The recent introduction of a bipartisan, bicameral bill in Congress would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to classify sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as aggravated felonies, which are deportable offenses. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) Oct. 4 cosponsored the Better... Read More »
U.S. DOD awards research grants to nearly 100 HBCUs, minority-serving institutions
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it had awarded more than $50 million in grants to researchers at nearly 100 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and at minority-serving institutions (MIs). According to the DOD the 98 grants are for up to $800,000 each and... Read More »
Rep. D’Esposito questions FEMA storm modeling after Helene
On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), asked FEMA for answers on how it used advanced forecasting and rainfall modeling to prepare for Hurricane Helene. D’Esposito, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, sent a letter to the FEMA... Read More »
GAO: NRC has not taken steps to address radiological security risks
According to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has failed to take steps that would strengthen its security requirements for radioactive materials. The GAO noted that only a small amount of radioactive material is required for terrorists... Read More »
Terrorism threat, both foreign and domestic, remains high DHS report says
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the threat from both foreign and domestic terrorism over the coming year remains high. As part of its 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment report released on Oct. 2, DHS said that a number of factors, including violent extremist responses to domestic... Read More »
DHS announces additional funding to protect faith-based and nonprofit institutions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it would distribute another $210 million in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to protect faith-based and nonprofit organizations. The money, part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), is the second batch of... Read More »
Congressmembers reintroduce legislation targeting wasteful Pentagon spending
On Monday, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IO) reintroduced legislation that would streamline Pentagon spending. The Streamline Pentagon Spending Act, would repeal statutory requirements to provide unfunded priorities lists, reduce... Read More »
More than 3,400 arrested as part of Operation North Star
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) had arrested more than 3,400 violent fugitives as part of its Operation North Star FY 2024 (ONS FY24). Operation North Star is a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative. The recent sweep resulted in the... Read More »
Legislation leveraging AI to handle pandemic preparedness introduced
On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced legislation that would use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to handle pandemic preparedness and response. The co-chairs of the Senate AI Caucus said the legislation would establish a program called MedShield and would... Read More »
House passes legislation to bolster wildfire tech
On Thursday, the U.S. House passed legislation designed to combat wildfires across the country. The Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) would allow private entities to partner with... Read More »
HHS boosts Mpox global vaccine supply through donations
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would donate more than a million doses of the mpox vaccine, boosting both domestic and international supply. The JYNNEOS mpox vaccine received regulatory approval from the World Health Organization last week.... Read More »