Policy
US Missile Defense Agency tests new “kill vehicles” to destroy ICBMs
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency tested two Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicles (EKV), which destroyed a threat representative intercontinental ballistic missile during a test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System (GMD). One EKV intercepted the target and the other gathered test data in what is... Read More »
Authorities seize $28.5M cocaine shipment
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and Coast Guard personnel recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle 2,513 pounds of cocaine valued at $28.5 million. Authorities arrested three Dominican Republic aliens found operating the vessel. Bales of narcotics were... Read More »
GAO finds limitations in DHS border security reporting, calls for improved quality
In an assessment of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) annually required reporting on 43 measures of border security effectiveness, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found data limitations and issues with statistical models. It should be noted: most of what GAO... Read More »
Cocaine seized at Philadelphia port
A multi-agency examination of shipping containers at the Area Port of Philadelphia discovered more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine on March 19. The cocaine, weighing 1,185 pounds, was discovered in a shipping container commodity of natural rubber from Guatemala. The narcotics have a street value... Read More »
Navy officials urge lethality, culture of excellence
While addressing the recent Commander’s Training Symposium (CTS), Navy Vice Adm. Richard Brown urged leaders to transition readiness into lethality, reinvigorate mission command and drive toward a culture of excellence. “Driving to a culture of excellence is not a top-down management... Read More »
SAFETY Act building guidelines available
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Office of SAFETY Act Implementation (OSAI) have helped develop guidelines to aid building owners with operations evaluations. The entities have partnered with the National Institute of Building Sciences... Read More »
Government health officials meet Congress members
More than 80 local, state, and territorial health officials met Wednesday with Congress members with the goal of advocating for public health funding. The officials told Congress members that investing in public health agencies is critical to protect and promote health. Federal... Read More »
Rep. Thompson urges social media companies to remove terrorist content in wake of New Zealand attack
Following last week’s terrorist attack on two New Zealand mosques where the shooter live-streamed it on social media, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) is calling on the CEOs of four major social media companies to immediately remove violent terrorist content. The request was sent to the CEOs... Read More »
AMO intercepts cocaine smuggling attempt
Air and Marine Operations (AMO) personnel are being credited with intercepting an international cocaine smuggling attempt in which the narcotics were valued at over $76 million. Authorities said officers patrolling the Eastern Pacific ocean aboard a P-3 aircraft detected suspects transporting... Read More »
Nielsen delivers State of Homeland Security address
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen delivered Monday the 2019 State of Homeland Security Address, which included operational challenges, the ever-changing security landscape and the department’s strategic plan. The address also included the department’s major... Read More »
Hearing explores nuclear forces, training and missions
A recent Senate Defense Appropriations Committee hearing explored the importance of updating the nation’s nuclear forces, developing pilot training programs and advancing the Arctic mission. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) reviewed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget with Air Force (USAF) Secretary... Read More »
Senate hearing highlights value of Ebola investments White House proposal would cut
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was the topic of a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee this week, highlighting successes and failures in the fight against it. Foremost, it was shown that the outbreak not only... Read More »
CBP swears in new port director for Los Angeles airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently swore in Donald R. Kusser as port director for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In this role, Kusser is responsible for managing all operational and administrative aspects of port security and trade facilitation, including air cargo,... Read More »
House committee requests briefing on domestic terrorism
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, is requesting a briefing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Justice Department on the threat of domestic terrorism. “Recent high-profile acts of violence and attempted violence have... Read More »
Blue Ribbon Study Panel praises congressional action to unify biodefense budget
Members of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense praised the passage of legislation that incorporates its recommendation to direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct a detailed analysis of the Trump Administration's budget for biodefense as part of the annual budget... Read More »
Sen. Rubio introduces effort to provide funding for disaster relief, border support
New relief and border support efforts could be available to Florida and Puerto Rican communities hit by hurricanes last year if a new bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) gains traction. The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Border Security and Disaster Relief Act of 2019... Read More »
Bill to regulate facial recognition technology introduced in Senate
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate last week would prohibit commercial users of facial recognition technology (FR) from collecting and sharing consumer data without their consent. The Commercial Facial Recognition Privacy Act of 2019 was co-sponsored by Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Brian... Read More »
States’ response to measles re-emergence, tuberculosis concerns federal health officials
Several states are grappling with how to handle current public health threats around the re-emergence of measles just as they also continue efforts to end the ongoing tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. Both threats came up during discussions at the March 14 hearing, entitled the “Review of the Ebola... Read More »
U.S., global partners struggle to contain Ebola outbreak in Congo, federal officials say
The United States is struggling to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other partners in fighting what has become the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak, federal public health officials on Thursday told members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and... Read More »
GAO offers IT, cyber workforce tracking recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a series of recommendations to aid agencies in identifying critical workforce needs and categorize IT and cyber-related positions. The analysis, which resulted in 28 recommendations, stemmed from having a qualified, well-trained... Read More »
Bills combat small business cybersecurity threats
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced Wednesday a pair of measures designed to address small cybersecurity threats. The SBA Cyber Awareness Act would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop a cyber... Read More »
Bill enhances Internet-connected cybersecurity
A group of lawmakers recently crafted legislation designed to enhance Internet-connected devices cybersecurity. The Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 is being introduced in the Senate by Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner(R-CO), co-chairs of the Senate... Read More »
Bill seeks 9-1-1 dispatcher reclassification
Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) recently introduced a bill reclassifying 9-1-1 dispatchers in the Office of Management and Budget Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) catalog to ensure classification standards place public safety first. The 911 Supporting... Read More »
IDSA criticizes White House 2020 budget efforts on public health response
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) warned this week that President Donald Trump’s 2020 budget proposal not only neglects but actively undermines investments necessary to maintain immediate and long-term responses to infectious disease threats. The organization lauded the $58... Read More »
Proposed Air Force budget includes $10B boost
The U.S. Air Force will see a $10 billion budget increase in fiscal year 2020 under the White House spending plan unveiled this week. With the proposed increase, the Air Force’s budget would rise to $165 billion in fiscal year 2020, which begins Oct. 1, 2019. It includes funding for new... Read More »
Lawmakers seek Venezuelan TPS designation
Citing ongoing violence, deteriorating security, and humanitarian crisis circumstances, a group of lawmakers recently requested that the Trump Administration designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined Dick Durbin... Read More »
NATO launches Innovation Challenge
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials recently launched this year's initial Innovation Challenge, which organizers said seeks to find ways for NATO to respond to security challenges and crises. NATO officials said they are seeking solutions from entrepreneurs, designers,... Read More »
INTERPOL, UNCCT train regional investigators to combat terrorist internet exploitation
INTERPOL and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) held a three-day workshop last month for law enforcement from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, meant to train them on means of countering internet and social media use by terrorists. In all, 15 participants... Read More »
Senators ask officials to review Trump Administration’s compliance with security clearance protocols
Several U.S. senators are asking federal security officials to review the Trump Administration’s compliance with security clearance policies and procedures. This request comes following reports that President Donald Trump ignored objections from White House Counsel Donald McGahn and Chief... Read More »
North Carolina lawmakers seek funding to combat gangs, violent crime
As a means of targeting gangs and violent crime, a pair of North Carolina lawmakers are advocating additional funding for the Middle District of the state's U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC) recently forwarded correspondence to Jim Crowell, director of... Read More »
CBP intercepts alleged cocaine smuggling effort
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers in Laredo, Texas, recently intercepted an alleged cocaine smuggling effort yielding a $109,000 forfeiture. The March 5 seizure at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge stemmed from a CBP officer referring a... Read More »
Secretary of the Air Force announces resignation
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson announced Friday her resignation, which will go into effect in May. As secretary, Wilson oversees the welfare, organizing, training and equipping of active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian employees and their families. Wilson also oversees the... Read More »
Bill to thwart violent extremism introduced in Senate
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill to support the U.S. government’s efforts to reduce violent extremism and address global fragility. The Global Fragility Act requires the Secretary of State, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the... Read More »
Bill targets Russian influence, promotes European security
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to combat Russian influence while creating economic opportunities at home and abroad. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) said the European... Read More »