Policy
CBP swears in new director of Nogales Port
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Nogales Port Director Michael Humphries was recently sworn into office during a formal ceremony held at the Mariposa crossing in Arizona. Humphries will ensure customs and agriculture inspections are in-line with U.S. laws and regulations and will... Read More »
House approves bill to promote use of more bomb-sniffing dogs
A bill that promotes the use of dogs to detect explosives was included in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Reauthorization that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The legislation, called the Domestic Explosive Detection Canine Capacity Building Act (H.R. 4577), ensures... Read More »
UN holds first high-level meeting to address global TB threat
The United Nations set forth a goal of eliminating a global tuberculosis epidemic by 2030, as well as to treat 40 million people infected by the disease by 2022 and push forward infection prevention measures in the same timeframe. A meeting held by the body’s General Assembly this week marked... Read More »
ICE operation yields arrest of 98 criminal aliens, immigration violators
During a 10-day enforcement operation this month, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) reported the arrest of 98 criminal aliens and immigration violators in North Texas and Oklahoma. Sixty-seven of those arrested had criminal... Read More »
House aviation bill reauthorizes FAA, TSA
The U.S. House advanced bipartisan resolution H.R. 302 Thursday that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration for five years while also reauthorizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for three years. “Better protecting Americans requires a holistic approach to security... Read More »
House advances bill to improve pay structure for border patrol agents
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced this week legislation to improve safety, scheduling, and compensation for Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act of 2018, sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), addresses pay and scheduling issues that have impeded the... Read More »
Bill seeks to assist law enforcement with drug-control efforts
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) recently introduced the Law Enforcement Resources and Community Safety Act of 2018, which addresses state and local problems associated with drug trafficking, gangs and organized crime, strengthen witness protection programs, and provide resources to keep first responders safe... Read More »
House advances four bills to improve homeland security
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced four bills this week designed to protect the country from external threats and foreign adversaries. The four different measures include the Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act, introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA); Border Tunnel Task Force... Read More »
United States challenges UN to fight antibiotic resistance
The United States announced during the United Nations General Assembly in New York Tuesday the AMR Challenge, the “most ambitious global initiative” for combating antibiotic resistance (AMR). Led by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
House approves Rep. Brooks’ pandemic, all-hazards reauthorization bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) to bolster America’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies, including biological threats like emerging infectious diseases, as well as chemical, bio or nuclear... Read More »
Administration transfers funding from infectious disease response to unaccompanied alien children program
In a move the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association warn could threaten public health responses, the Trump Administration has transferred funds from infectious disease prevention, care, and biomedical research programs into its unaccompanied alien children... Read More »
Three Pennsylvania counties added to drug-trafficking program
Pennsylvania’s Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington counties were designated this week as part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. Congress created HIDTA under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. It was designed to assist... Read More »
Air Force awards Boeing $2.38B helicopter contract
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract for replacement helicopters. The original cost estimate for the program was about $4.1 billion. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said that the $1.7 billion in savings was due to strong competition. The first helicopter... Read More »
GAO says DHS’s Countering WMD Office should be better coordinated
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office develop a plan to help DHS coordinate chemical defense programs and activities. The GAO’s study came about in response to concerns about... Read More »
Military construction bill to improve both VA and military bases signed into law
An appropriations bill signed into law on Sept. 21 by President Donald Trump will increase funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through 2019 and fund military construction throughout the country. For the VA, this represents a massive influx of funding at more than $86.5 billion,... Read More »
United States calls for global cooperation in quelling antibiotic resistance
During the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Sept. 25, Alex Azar, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary, will call on world leaders to address the evolving threat of antibiotic resistance. Failure to prepare for and reverse antibiotic resistance could lead to... Read More »
Researchers push greater infectious disease controls in Tokyo ahead of 2020 Summer Olympics
Researchers from Harvard University urged government officials this week to develop new measures to detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, like dengue fever, in Tokyo ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics. In a report published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the researchers --... Read More »
DHS says National Cyber Strategy will enhance efforts to combat cybercrimes
President Donald Trump launched the National Cyber Strategy last week, the first “fully articulated” cyber strategy since 2003. The strategy calls for integrating cyber into the four pillars of the National Security Strategy. Specifically, the strategy is designed to defend the homeland by... Read More »
DHS struggling to create a cohesive, effective department, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has made a series of recommendations for evolution within the Department of Homeland Security, better defining its roles and responsibilities to make it less of a risk due to lack of cohesiveness. Efficacy is a huge issue within the department. DHS’... Read More »
Panel discusses Air Force integration of part-time servicemembers
A senior leader panel discussed Tuesday the Air Force integration of Guard and Reserve personnel into missions during the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, part-time forces heavily have been relied upon to meet manpower... Read More »
Senate appropriations bill includes funding for military construction projects in New York State
The recently passed Fiscal Year 2019 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related (MILCON-VA) Appropriations Bill includes funding for four military construction (MILCON) projects in New York State. Specifically, $188.2 million was allocated to fund the construction of a perimeter fence... Read More »
Senate report includes increased funding for Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles
Roughly $1.5 billion in funding to upgrade 135 of Abrams tanks was approved by the Senate on Sept. 18 in the fiscal year 2019 Department of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies conference report. “This funding supports our troops both at home and around... Read More »
Bicameral bill would forbid low-yield nuclear warheads on submarine missiles
The bicameral Hold the Low-Yield Nuclear Explosive Act, or the Hold the LYNE Act, was introduced in Congress on Sept. 18, a measure that would prohibit the research, development, production and deployment of a low-yield nuclear warhead for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The legislation,... Read More »
Air Force Secretary Wilson lends branch status update
Restoring force readiness, space operations and the future served as the prime topics during the Secretary of the Air Force’s recent update on the state of the branch. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson addressed the 2018 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National... Read More »
White House authorizes national biodefense strategy; HHS to take governance lead
The Sept. 18 release of the 2018 National Biodefense Strategy and a newly signed National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) will bolster the nation’s defenses against man-made, accidental or intentional, and naturally occurring biological threats to Americans’ health and safety, said U.S.... Read More »
GAO examines nuclear proliferation plan costs
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) provide funding estimates for its mandated nuclear proliferation plan. A federal law introduced in 2015 and 2017 directed the President to submit a proliferation plan to Congress. A... Read More »
FAA warns drone operators against interfering with hurricane response efforts
With federal attention focused on rescue and aid efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns of stiff fines for any drone users operating without authorization in affected areas. The reason for this is to keep unmanned aircraft from inadvertently --... Read More »
CBP New Orleans office to participate in Hurricane Florence relief
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations and the New Orleans Air and Marine Branch recently announced they would be participating in Hurricane Florence relief efforts in the Carolinas. They will be joined by the Jacksonville office and will support the Atlanta... Read More »
Lawmakers urge exploration of deepfake threats
Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) are encouraging the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to assess threats posed by deepfake technology. The three representatives forwarded correspondence last week to DNI chief Dan Coats requesting the Intelligence... Read More »
New legislation seeks advanced education in schools to improve active assailant security
The Active Assailant Training, Readiness and Response Act, introduced to the House by U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) last week, will seek to establish a Department of Education grant for active assailant situation training. The grant would be used to improve security through university-based... Read More »
Representatives introduce bill to strengthen cybersecurity programs
Seeking to expand the workforce for cybersecurity, U.S. Reps. Dan Donovan (R-NY) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced last week the Cyber Ready Workforce Act, which would support the creation and expansion of apprenticeship programs therein. “Cybersecurity threats will continue to present... Read More »
House committee advances bill that would strengthen cyber defense
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security recently advanced the Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act that was introduced by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). The act would establish a bug bounty pilot program to strengthen cyber defenses at the Department of... Read More »
House approves bill to counter weapons of mass destruction
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation last week to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fight terrorist threats from weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The House unanimously approved the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 (H.R. 6198), which enables DHS... Read More »
Funding to bolster NASIC initiative
Senate lawmakers have approved a report earmarking $61 million for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), which is located at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Armed Services Committee authorized the funding as part of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act... Read More »