Policy
GOP national security leaders call for US to send long-range missile systems to Ukraine
Republican national security leaders in Congress are urging President Joe Biden to send long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. These would be in addition to the full inventory of the shorter range anti-personnel variants of the same munition, according to a Nov. 1 letter... Read More »
Secret Service creates framework for transnational crime cooperation with Australian Federal Police
The U.S. Secret Service and the Australian Federal Police signed a memorandum of understanding last week creating a new basis for interagency and international collaboration and information sharing on transnational crime. “The Secret Service is honored to join our partners at the Australian... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Daines seeks to designate Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization over Israel attacks
Following missile attacks on Israel by the Houthis of Yemen – also known as Ansarallah – and more intercepted by U.S. military units in the region in recent days, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced a bill last week to redesignate the group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The... Read More »
Justice Department Civil Rights Division hosts virtual forum on combating hate
On the 25th anniversary of the murders of James Byrd Jr. and Matthew Shepard, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division held a virtual forum on the launch of the United Against Hate (UAH) initiative and efforts to fight hate crimes. “As I see in my daily threat briefings, there has... Read More »
U.S. Reps. McCaul, Gallego ask House for greater funding for first responders dealing with migrants
In a letter to the House Appropriation Committee this week, U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) urged leadership to include funding for first responder aid programs in any FY 2024 supplemental appropriations to support those affected by immigration. “Increased operations... Read More »
Senate adds amendment that would ban federal funding of drones produced in certain nations
A new amendment from U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mark Warner (D-VA) that would bar the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from providing federal funds to drones produced in certain foreign countries was added to an Appropriations Minibus package this week. This amendment (1349)... Read More »
Bipartisan resolution underlines support for International Atomic Energy Agency
Working together, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced a resolution this week to support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in promoting nuclear security. “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a crucial role in bolstering... Read More »
Biden administration issues executive order for A.I. developmental guardrails
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 »
Internal memo leak from DHS prompts document demand from House Homeland Security Republicans
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 »
Bill to simplify requirements for FEMA hazard mitigation grants clears Senate committee
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 »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection updates strategy to combat fentanyl, synthetic drugs
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 »
Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act reintroduced to crack down on financial institutions connected to Iran
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 »
Protect Our Bases Act seeks to provide greater oversight of foreign land purchases near sensitive sites
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 »
Advanced Border Coordination Act seeks improvements to communication along U.S.-Mexico border
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 »
Republicans float Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act to keep paychecks flowing during shutdowns
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 »
TSA renews cybersecurity requirements for railroad carriers
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 »
Nuclear Threat Initiative paper provides analysis, contemplates shape of nuclear planning
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 »
DHS proposes modernizing the H-1B specialty occupation worker program
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 »
Facilitating Hazard Mitigation Projects Act would require FEMA simplify grant requirements
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 »
BEST Facilitation Act introduced to speed up cargo screenings at ports of entry
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 »
Defense Department chooses Ohio to host defense innovation hub
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 »
Customs and Border Protection integrating supply chain data following startup exchange testing
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 »
Justice Department makes recommendations to counteract law enforcement recruitment, retention woes
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 »
DoD funds help create four new research centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions
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 »
U.S. Reps. Kelly, Zinke call for locking down U.S. northern border for fear of suspected terrorists
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 »
Bipartisan Senate effort seeks to freeze $6B in Iranian assets
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 »
Justice Department doles out nearly $75M for various law enforcement efforts
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 opens nearly $2B of available federal funding for community climate resilience
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 »
Final report of U.S. Strategic Posture Commission pushes urgent build up to deter China, Russia simultaneously
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 »
GAO: Crew shortfalls remain problem to Navy readiness
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 »
Bipartisan Operation Swords of Iron bill proposed to appropriate $2B for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system
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 »
New York increases security measures for Jewish community in wake of Israel-Palestine War
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 »
U.S. to help support Israel in defense against Hamas attacks
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 »
World governments advance amendments to International Health Regulations
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 »