Policy
Legislation would re-authorize cybersecurity tools
The House Committee on Homeland Security recently advanced two bills that would re-authorize and update two vital cybersecurity tools the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses before they expire. The Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act... Read More »
Legislation to address online radicalism passes out of committee
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) said his bill to address terror threats posed by online radicalization has passed out of committee. The Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act passed advanced out of the House Committee On Homeland Security. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of... Read More »
Legislation would reform FEMA
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and federal disaster assistance programs. The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025 would once again make FEMA a cabinet-level agency directly... Read More »
House passes bills that will reform foreign arms sales
The U.S. House of Representative recently passed several bills that would improve the foreign arms sales process and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base. The bills were included in a legislation package the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced and will codify reforms to the foreign... Read More »
Advisory counters Chinese actions to compromise networks worldwide
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) joined the National Security Agency (NSA), FBI and international partners, to release a joint cybersecurity advisory on malicious activity by Chinese threat actors. According to the release, People’s Republic of China (PRC)... Read More »
Mexican national pleads guilty to RICO charge, leading drug cartel
Ismael Zambada Garcia, a Mexican national, recently plead guilty to being a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world from January 1989 through January 2024, and to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO)... Read More »
Trump approves NSA deputy director
President Donald Trump recently approved Joseph Francescon to serve as the National Security Agency's (NSA) 21st deputy director and senior civilian leader. Francescon will be tasked with supporting the U.S. defense and intelligence enterprise in the formulation of national security policies,... Read More »FBI warns of Russian government cyber threats
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning of a threat from Russian government cyber actors that is impacting computer networks and critical infrastructure. The FBI has detected cyber actors Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) Center 16 exploiting Simple Network Management Protocol... Read More »
Law enforcement operations reduce violent crime in Baton Rouge
Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials conducted multi-agency operations over the past several months to reduce violent crime in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and surrounding communities. The efforts resulted in 52 federal indictments charging 68 defendants with drug trafficking, illegal... Read More »
DHS awards faith-based organizations $110M in grants
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently awarded more than 600 faith-based organizations and other nonprofit organizations $110 million in funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The program awards grants for security enhancements such as... Read More »
DEA initiative aims to counter drug cartel operations in United States, Mexico
A new initiative between the United States and Mexico aims to strengthen collaboration in the fight against drug cartels. Project Portero, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) operation aimed at dismantling cartel operatives, called gatekeepers, who control the smuggling corridors along... Read More »
Seattle woman charged with murder of border patrol indicted on additional charges
A federal grand jury in the District of Vermont on Thursday indicted Teresa Youngblut, a Seattle resident accused of murdering a border patrol agent, for the assault of two additional agents with a deadly weapon and related firearms offenses. On Jan. 20., a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a... Read More »
X-energy agrees to develop microreactor for Defense Department
Citing its importance in national security, X-energy Reactor Company said it had entered into an agreement to provide the U.S. Department of Defense with nuclear microreactors. X-energy said the agreement with the DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Department of the Air Force would... Read More »
Chinese nationals arrested for shipping AI microchips to China
Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice said two Chinese nationals, one in the country illegally, have been arrested for exporting microchips used in artificial intelligence to China. The DOJ alleges that Chuan Geng, 28, of Pasadena, and Shiwei Yang, 29, of El Monte, violated the Export... Read More »
Appropriations bill includes funding for infectious disease programs
The Senate FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill includes billions in funding for domestic and global infectious disease programs. Funding includes $1.015 billion for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; $6.562 billion for National Institute of... Read More »
Legislation would modernize weather radio communications
Bipartisan legislation recently re-introduced in the U.S. Senate would modernize weather radio with the goal of enhancing the reliability of emergency communications during severe weather and increasing the accessibility of critical warnings. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric... Read More »
MARAD signs 20 contracts totaling $6.2B for Ready Reserve Force
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently signed 20 contracts totaling $6.2 billion for the management of its Ready Reserve Force (RRF). RRF provides strategic sealift support for the rapid deployment of U.S. military forces and equipment during conflicts, crises and emergencies. The... Read More »
New York Gov. Hochul calls on DHS to release security funding
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release funding to help secure the city after a mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan on Monday. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Hochul demanded the release of Urban Area Security... Read More »
Legislation would prevent U.S. Transportation Department from using Chinese LIDAR technology
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) re-introduced legislation this week that would prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation from using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. The legislation is aimed at preventing the department from using technology that would give China access to 3-D... Read More »
Senators applaud passage of updates to missing persons database
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) applauded the passage out of committee of legislation aimed at the federal updating missing persons database to include those who went missing on federal land or territorial waters. The legislation, the TRACE Act, passed out of the Senate... Read More »
TSA seeks airport security checkpoint technology proposals
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is seeking proposals for the development and deployment of turnkey solutions to use at airport security checkpoints. Solutions must enhance aviation security effectiveness; reduce total operating costs, workforce requirements, and manual labor;... Read More »
Legislation authorizing Coast Guard funding passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to approve bipartisan legislation that would authorize funding for the United States Coast Guard through 2029. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 does four things. It authorizes support for Coast Guard operations, creates greater parity... Read More »
Rep. Garbarino next House Committee on Homeland Security chairman
The House Committee on Homeland Security recently selected U.S. Rep Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) to be its next chairman. Garbarino replaces U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) who resigned his seat on Monday to pursue a role in the private sector. “I am honored to have earned the trust and... Read More »
Senate confirms Gen. Guetlein to lead Golden Dome office
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Gen. Michael Guetlein as the first direct reporting program manager for the Golden Dome for America project. Guetlein will report directly to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg. Officials said. Guetlein will be responsible for developing the... Read More »
California man pleads guilty to stealing trade secrets
Chenguang Gong, a former Southern California engineer with dual U.S. and Chinese citizenship, recently pled guilty to stealing trade secrets the U.S. government developed to detect nuclear missile launches, track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and detect and evade heat-seeking missiles. He... Read More »
Legislation would crack down on illegal drug sales on social media
Legislation re-introduced by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) would crack down on the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on social media channels. The legislation, the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, would require social media companies and other... Read More »
Legislation to combat drug cartels, human traffickers introduced
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) introduced legislation to address the threat of organized criminal activity in border communities. The No Mor Narcos Act and the Stop COYOTES Act targets drug cartels and human traffickers to prevent them from exploiting vulnerable populations including children... Read More »
House security task force announces hearing on attacks at mass-gathering events
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), vice chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security said a task force for enhancing security for special events in the United States would hold its first hearing next week. McCaul said the “Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Event in the United... Read More »
Coast Guard Authorization Act moves out of committee
On Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) approved bipartisan legislation to authorize funding for the U.S. Coast Guard through 2029. The legislation, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, was initially introduced by U.S. Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO), chair of T&I,... Read More »
Legislation would require all law enforcement officers to clearly display identification
Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and cosponsored by 14 other Democratic senators would require law enforcement officers conducting immigration enforcement activities to display identification during public-facing operations. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the ranking... Read More »
Congressmen introduce legislation to protect federal judges, law enforcement
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jared Golden (R-ME) introduced legislation that would offer protection for federal judges, law enforcement and public safety officers. The Back the Blue Act would create new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or the attempt to kill, or conspiring to... Read More »
Legislation would fund Defense Department activities
Legislation being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would provide appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military activities. The FY 26 Department of Defense Appropriations Act would provide funding for military personnel, operation and maintenance,... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening seaport security introduced
U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) introduced legislation recently that aims to create a collaborative approach to securing trade and travel, as well as strengthening security the nations seaports. The legislation, The CBP Securing Ports and America’s Commerce and Economy (SPACE) Act, would allow... Read More »
CBP seizes $23M worth of at Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, officers intercepted more than $23 million in alleged methamphetamine on July 6 at the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility. The bridge connects Pharr, Texas, with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The drugs... Read More »