Policy
Border agents seize 221 pounds of cocaine
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations seized 221.7 pounds of cocaine last month. The narcotic was concealed in produce cargo vessels arriving to Port... Read More »
Republican senators urge Trump to fully fund F-35 fighter jet
A group of Republican senators recently urged President Donald Trump to fully fund the F-35 fighter jet as opposed to investing in F-15X. “We are extremely concerned that, over the last few years, the DoD (Department of Defense) has underfunded the F-35 Program and relied on Congress to fund... Read More »
Report examines future terrorism prevention efforts
Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Elizabeth Neumann recently released report findings examining past terrorism prevention efforts and future measures. The analysis stems from the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), which is operated for the Department of... Read More »
House bill would create Cyber Incident Response Teams at DHS
A bill was released in the U.S. House of Representatives that would codify the creation of Cyber Incident Response Teams within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These cyber response teams would protect the nation’s information technology networks and critical infrastructure and... Read More »
Legislators urge application of full travel safety law
Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are imploring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enforce their travel safety law, which they maintain is not currently being applied as required. The Saracini Aviation Act requires the installation of a secondary cockpit barrier between the... Read More »
Bill targets China’s political influence operations
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) reintroduced Wednesday a measure designed to counter China’s political influence operations in the United States and worldwide. The Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party’s Political Influence Operations Act would... Read More »
Sens. Kaine, Menendez introduce bill to ban high-capacity magazines
Through the newly introduced Keep Americans Safe Act, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) seek to ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer or even possession of gun magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition. These high-capacity magazines have come under fire... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee advances cybersecurity bill
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced three bills this week designed to bolster federal efforts to prevent cyberattacks and increase federal government transparency online. One of the three bills that were passed in committee is the DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident... Read More »
Bill seeks to improve TSA workforce
Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) recently introduced a measure designed to provide Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce employees the same worker rights and protections afforded to other federal workers. The Rights for Transportation Security... Read More »
Defense Department summarizes artificial intelligence strategy
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have released a summary outlining the agency's intent to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) into the future. Critical elements of Harnessing AI to Advance Our Security and Prosperity include accelerating the delivery and adoption of AI; establishing a... Read More »
New York State ramps up counterterrorism preparedness efforts
New York State conducted counterterrorism exercises at 1,000 locations throughout the state in 2018. The exercises were run by the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Counter Terrorism where experts from state and local agencies went undercover as customers... Read More »
National Health Security Strategy includes all-of-government approach to combat threats
Extreme weather events, a CBRN incident, cyberthreats and infectious diseases having pandemic potential all put Americans on notice for 21st century health security hazards, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in its newly developed National Health Security Strategy... Read More »
DoD awards $3M to START to update terrorism-related datasets
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded $3 million to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) to update terrorism-related datasets that serve intelligence community modeling and simulation efforts. With this new award -- called Enhancing Datastreams... Read More »
DHS waiver expedites border fence replacement
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said a recently granted waiver ensures construction and replacement of a section of California secondary wall near the international border. The waiver for the 12.5 miles of coverage stems from authority granted to the Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Senators push CDC to use vaccines amidst Washington Measles outbreak
With 79 measles cases already confirmed this year, the top Democrat and Republican on the U.S. Senate health committee have dispatched a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), urging them to promote vaccine... Read More »Bill links DHS, National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a measure designed to link the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) to combat cybersecurity risks. The National Cybersecurity Preparedness... Read More »
Houston safety agencies test first-responder technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) hosted 13 Houston-area public safety agencies and 20 industry partners at the Port of Houston in December to test first-responder technology integration. The test also was hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard,... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Wyden ask DHS to assess foreign-made VPN threat
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have asked the Department of Homeland Security to assess the national security risks stemming from foreign-made Virtual Private Network (VPN). The senators specifically mention VPN networks affiliated with countries of national security concern,... Read More »
Bipartisan bill would require installation of secondary barriers on commercial aircraft
A bipartisan bill recently introduced in the U.S. House would require the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on existing commercial aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks. The barriers would be lightweight wire-mesh gates installed between the passenger cabin and the cockpit door. The... Read More »
Senate bill would reform Trade Expansion Act
A bill to reform the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The legislation is designed to better align the act with its original intent as a trade remedy tool for the president and Congress to respond to threats to national security. In keeping with the... Read More »
GAO examines Army’s rebuilding, transformation effort
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently offered an assessment regarding the Army's progression toward rebuilding readiness and implementing transformation goals by 2022. The GAO said the analysis involved providing information on the Army's progress and challenges in readiness... Read More »Resolution ensures Congressional support for NATO
Several legislators recently announced their support of a Joint Resolution preventing the U.S. withdrawal from NATO without congressional approval. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) said the effort serves effort as companion legislation... Read More »
Border patrol agents continued CBP mission during shutdown
San Diego Sector (SDC) Border Patrol personnel continued to skillfully execute missions during the recent partial government shutdown, which represented the longest such period in the nation’s history. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials said from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 24, 2019, SDC... Read More »
US Air Force needs to improve experienced maintenance personnel retention, GAO says
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently announced two recommendations for how the Air Force can retain aircraft maintenance personnel. The Air Force’s largest enlisted career field is aircraft maintenance, and there are more than 100,000 active and reserve maintenance... Read More »
Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense focuses on DOD role in protecting U.S. against bio attacks
There’s ample reason to concentrate on the role the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) plays in helping the nation defend against biological attacks, one of the most critical being the protection of America’s military troops, said experts Tuesday during a Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster border with seized drug funds
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently introduced legislation designed to enhance border security via funds seized from illegal entities such as drug cartels. The Securing the Border and Making Drug Cartels Pay for It Act would authorize the issuance of bonds to make billions of dollars available for... Read More »
Lawmakers lend support to RAIDERS Act
A group of legislators recently announced their support of the RAIDERS Act, which officials said is designed to prevent presidential use of National Emergencies Act of 1976 funds to build a border wall. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Martin... Read More »
Senate bill would create national strategy for threat assessment
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate this week seeks to create a task force to provide recommendations for a national strategy on threat assessment and management. The Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety (TAPS) Act of 2019 (S. 265) would provide resources, training, and assistance in... Read More »
Bill seeks to enhance cybersecurity, homeland protection
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) reintroduced last week a measure designed to prevent cyberattacks on federal agencies and the private sector while also bolstering homeland protection. The senators said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response... Read More »
More than 140 pounds of narcotics seized from car at San Diego port of entry
U.S. Border Patrol agents at the San Clemente Station in the San Diego Sector seized more than 140 pounds of narcotics, valued at more than $2.25 million hidden inside a car on Jan. 24. Agents conducted a vehicle stop on a 2016 Nissan Versa, and the driver consented to a search by a Border... Read More »
US to pull out of INF Treaty, Feinstein says doing so jeopardizes national security
The United States is backing out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) with Russia citing Russia’s failure to comply with the treaty. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 in the waning days of the former Soviet Union by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General... Read More »
DoD funds earmarked for counterterrorism decision making
The Department of Defense's (DoD) Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) has committed nearly $3 million to an effort addressing key terrorism-related datasets and counterterrorism decision making. The funds are allocated to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and... Read More »
S&T turns to social science projects to combat human trafficking
Recognizing that human trafficking is a crime often hidden from the public eye, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced two new social science, data-driven projects to tackle the crime this week. “Applying social science-based... Read More »
Bill would halt purchase of ballistic missiles unless conditions are met
A group of U.S. senators recently introduced the Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2019. The bill would prevent funding for the purchase, flight-testing or deployment of ballistic missiles or ground-launched missiles with a range of between 310.7 and 3,417.5 miles until the Trump Administration... Read More »