Policy
Senators urge State Department to adopt cybersecurity measure
A group of five bipartisan senators recently urged the State Department to adopt cybersecurity measures to protect against phishing and other cyberattacks. The letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo follows multiple reports by the Office of Inspector General that outside auditors found the... Read More »
Reps. Bishop, Conaway seek information on how Iran used sanctions relief
U.S. Reps. Mike Bishop (R-MI) and Mike Conaway (R-TX) introduced a bill to require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit a report to Congress on Iran’s use of assets received from sanctions relief. The bill, the Iran Payments Accountability Act of 2018 (H.R. 6774), states that... Read More »
Nearly one ton of cocaine seized in Joint Interagency Task Force raid
Cocaine valued at more than $25 million was seized last month during a Joint Interagency Task Force South interception of a low-profile vessel moving in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. In all, nearly a ton of cocaine was pulled from the vessel after it was spotted by a... Read More »
US Air Force awards Boeing $2.9B contract for tanker production
Boeing gained a $2.9 billion contract from the United States Air Force this week, making them responsible for the fourth production lot of KC-46A tanker aircraft and all associated equipment. The KC-46A is a tanker with multiple roles, able to refuel allied and coalition military aircraft, as... Read More »
Air Force safety review highlights areas of focus
The U.S. Air Force recently conducted an operational safety review and identified several areas of focus. The findings have been released to field, flying and maintenance leaders at every level, so they can address the issues, facilitate safety review discussions and make more informed... Read More »Rep. Katko introduces bill to curb gun violence
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Protecting our Communities and Rights Act of 2018 this week, which would establish a process to allow law enforcement to confiscate guns from individuals who are dangerous or unfit to have them. It is a federal version of “red flag” laws that have... Read More »
Massachusetts fire departments receive $4.5 million in grants
Twenty-seven Massachusetts fire departments recently were awarded nearly $4.5 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Twenty-four fire departments received funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program and two received funding through the... Read More »
Sen. Wicker seeks enhanced Mississippi airport security
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) is seeking federal assurances designed to enhance security and efficiency at the state’s airports. The senator recently participated in a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing and used the forum to address concerns with Transportation... Read More »
IPNDV looks to turn nuclear disarmament procedure into practice
At a meeting of the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) Joint Working Group in Seoul earlier this summer, experts announced their intentions to take ideas for the nuclear dismantlement lifecycle into exercises and technology demonstrations. This second phase is... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations to improve FEMA risk model
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released three recommendations to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) risk-based grant assessment model. Risk models are used to determine how to allot preparedness grants. States and urban areas considered higher... Read More »
Calif. senators urge FCC, mobile providers to guarantee service to first responders
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) along with leading mobile providers to guarantee service to first responders during emergencies. The California senators also asked the mobile service providers – specifically... Read More »
House advances cyber protection measure
House lawmakers advanced this week a measure designed to bolster protections against state-sponsored cyber activity threats aimed at the United States. The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act of 2018 protects the nation’s economy, elections, and infrastructure from cyber activity by establishing... Read More »
Senators introduce legislation to strengthen Taiwan’s global standing
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation this week that demands a U.S. strategy to bolster Taiwan’s diplomatic standing around the world. The Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI)... Read More »
CBP, Coast Guard seize nearly $55M worth of cocaine
In a joint operation with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP/AMO) intercepted a low profile vessel last month which led to more than 2 tons of cocaine seized. The estimated street value of the cocaine seized is approximately $54,938,000. Its... Read More »
House advances bill to improve border security
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill this week to improve border security and prevent potential terrorists and dangerous criminals from entering the country. The Biometric Identification Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) Authorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 6439) would fully authorize... Read More »
Report highlights growing terror threats
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, released Tuesday its latest report documenting terror threats from Islamist terrorists, noting the efforts are growing. McCaul presented the September Terror Threat Snapshot as part of an ongoing effort to highlight... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for Coast Guard polar icebreakers
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued recommendations regarding the U.S. Coast Guard’s and Navy’s plan to invest up to $9.8 billion to build and maintain three heavy polar icebreakers. The ships would be used to conduct missions in the Arctic and Antarctic, and a... Read More »
House advances bill to codify DHS continuous diagnostics, mitigation program
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill this week to codify the continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill, the Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act (H.R. 6443), would require the development of... Read More »
MS-13 gang arrests yield assault, drug charges
Law enforcement officials said the arrests of more than 20 individuals associated with the California-based Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang on assault and drug charges also yielded a cache of weapons. Officials said the recent arrests in Mendota and Los Angeles, California, were issued on the... Read More »
Small Vessel Reporting System being replaced by new CBP ROAM App
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS) is is no longer in service, leaving boaters to turn to the new Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile (ROAM) app. While float plans will no longer be accepted, existing SVRS numbers are still valid. They can be entered... Read More »
Ceremony commemorates change of NATO command in Afghanistan
A ceremony at mission headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, recently commemorated the change in command from General John ''Mick'' Nicholson to General Austin Scott Miller. Miller will oversee NATO’s and its operational partners’ efforts to develop effective and sustainable Afghan security... Read More »
Navy awards Lockheed Martin $500 million eCASS contract
Lockheed Martin recently won a $500 million, seven-year contract from the U.S. Navy to build more than 200 electronic Consolidated Automated Support Systems (eCASS) to maximize aircraft readiness. eCASS provides maintenance and repair capabilities for all naval aircraft, ship and submarine... Read More »
US Customs and Border Protection establishes air, marine facility in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico now hosts a new, $4.7 million marine unit facility of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s air and marine operations (AMO). Located on nearly an acre of land, the facility plays host to a new 41-foot SAFE Boat, filled with safety equipment and electronic packages to enhance... Read More »
Justice Department, CBP produce fentanyl safety video for first responders
The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) produced a new video for first responders to help them protect themselves from the presence of fentanyl on the job. The video, called “Fentanyl: The Real Deal” is a companion training video to its Fentanyl Safety... Read More »
Soldier pleads guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS
An Army soldier recently plead guilty to four federal counts of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Federal officials said Ikaika Erik Kang, 35, a Sergeant First Class stationed at Schofield... Read More »
Raytheon appoints new president
The Raytheon Company’s Space and Airborne Systems will soon be led by vice president Roy Azevedo, following the retirement of Richard Yuse at year’s end. Azevedo has been with the company for nearly 30 years and will begin learning his new role in the meanwhile, beginning Sept. 1. Yuse, who... Read More »
Rockwell Collins app to assist Japan Customs ahead of 2020 Olympic Games
Japan Customs, one of the first agencies in the world to announce a live Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) program, will use an application developed by Rockwell Collins for enhancing national security in preparation for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. ACI provides electronic cargo information... Read More »
CBP to test facial recognition ID technology at Anzalduas Bridge in Texas
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will run a facial comparison technical demonstration for vehicle travelers this week at the Anzalduas International Bridge Port of Entry in McAllen, Texas. The system will use a camera to take a picture of travelers entering and departing the United... Read More »
Government invests more than $20 mln in terror prevention
The U.S. government has invested more than $20 million since 2010 in terrorism prevention and intervention measures and in understanding how radicalization leads to violence. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the National Institute of... Read More »
Survey shows benefits of active shooter training, simulations
An Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) survey has determined active shooter training and simulations are essential to ensuring staff is equipped to respond effectively during an act of violence. Findings published online in the Journal of Emergency Nursing showed out of 202 emergency nurses and... Read More »
Lawmakers seek cybersecurity reforms
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and MITRE Corporation as a means of encouraging cybersecurity reforms. The letters stem from an investigation last year into the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program. Signees include... Read More »
Senators concerned election system not prepared for foreign threats
Four Senate Intelligence Committee members recently sent a letter to Tom Burt, president and CEO of Election Systems & Software (ES&S), urging the company to arrange independent testing of its election systems. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Kamala Harris (D-CA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Mark... Read More »
Sens. Gardner, Coons sponsor bill to impose sanction on “cyber attackers”
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced Monday legislation to deter and respond to state-sponsored malicious cyber activity against the United States. The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act requires the administration to impose sanctions against all entities and persons... Read More »
DHS announces $345 mln in preparedness grants
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced it has allocated $345 million for six fiscal year 2018 competitive preparedness grant programs. In June, more than $1.3 billion in noncompetitive grant funding was announced. Preparedness grants are used to support the National... Read More »