Policy
Senate bill would expand National Threat Assessment Center to enhance school safety
The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) would be expanded to include a national program that conducts research and provides resources on school violence across the country. Named for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s mascot, the Eagles Act, S. 2759, would... Read More »
Alliance for Biosecurity testifies before House subcommittee on need for long-term funding to counter biological threats
Leadership from the Alliance for Biosecurity urged Congressional lawmakers at a hearing on Thursday to increase funding for programs to protect Americans from biological and chemical threats. Speaking before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and... Read More »
Senate bill would give DHS new authority to remove corrupted software from federal systems
With the volume of cyber attacks on government computer systems jumping from 5,500 in 2006 to more than 77,000 in 2015, legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would give the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tools to better protect against foreign attacks. The Federal... Read More »
DHS needs to enhance cybersecurity risk mitigation efforts despite progress, GAO finds
Despite recent efforts to mitigate cybersecurity risks to networks supporting the nation’s critical infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has “not taken sufficient actions” to accomplish that goal, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released... Read More »
DHS S&T conducts land and maritime drone testing in January
For the first time, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) was able to test drones for land and maritime usefulness to federal agencies, conducting tests at two sites in Mississippi back in January. To do so, they worked with the United States... Read More »
GAO makes FEMA grant assessment recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the manner in which the agency assesses its grant programming. In 2012 the GAO identified coordination challenges among Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)... Read More »
As ‘migrant caravan’ approaches southern border, Trump administration threatens prosecution
A “migrant caravan” from Central America began approaching the southern U.S. border on Monday, prompting Trump administration officials to warn that any violators of immigration law will face prosecution. The caravan totaled about 1,500 people when it embarked from the Mexico-Guatemala... Read More »
Senior police officials participate in international training course on major event security
Senior police officials from 24 countries recently participated in a hands-on training course on securing major sporting events. The International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) Project Stadia and the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) developed and... Read More »
Cyber experts participate in world’s largest cyber defence exercise
Approximately 1,000 cyber experts from nearly 30 nations are participating this week in Locked Shields, the largest international live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), which is based... Read More »
Sen. Tester highlights homeland security funding priorities in government funding bill
During a roundtable discussion in Montana on Friday, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) highlighted provisions of the federal omnibus spending bill that are designed to bolster homeland security by increasing resources for critical security and local police departments. Tester, the ranking member of... Read More »
State Department reauthorization bill outlines personnel, IT, and embassy security enhancements
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a markup on Thursday of State Department reauthorization bill that would enhance training and recruitment of diplomats, make embassies more secure, crack down on public corruption, and harden information technology (IT) systems. Under the... Read More »
Science and Technology Directorate working to improve analytics capabilities across Homeland Security Enterprise
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to introduce its System of Systems Operational Analytics (SoSOA) program, which aims to improve analytical capabilities for decision-making across the Homeland Security Enterprise. S&T is currently... Read More »
Air Force Intelligence Squadron holds Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking seminar
The 526th Intelligence Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, recently hosted an Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking seminar at AFWERX Vegas, which more than 100 Airmen, contractors, and Department of Defense employees attended. AFWERX Vegas, a branch of DEFENSEWERX, is a... Read More »
Senate bill calls for national strategy to combat global financial networks used by criminal syndicates
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate on Thursday would require President Trump to draft a national strategy to identify and disrupt global financial networks used by transnational criminal organizations to transfer an estimated $870 billion around the world. Under the Criminal... Read More »
Navy-Coast Guard collaboration on drug interdiction efforts discussed in Senate hearing
Noting that only an estimated 25 percent of drug shipments coming into the United States by sea are intercepted, U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) called on the Navy and Coast Guard to better coordinate interdiction efforts during a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday. King... Read More »
United Nations Department of Safety and Security unable to enter Douma, Syria, for reconnaissance
A reconnaissance mission led by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) was forced to turn back from Douma, Syria, this week under fire. The mission was meant to be a preliminary for an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact-Finding Mission in the... Read More »
NSA hosts researchers from six Science and Security Privacy initiative ‘lablets’
The National Security Agency (NSA) recently hosted researchers from “lablets” taking part in its Science of Security and Privacy (SoS) initiative, which advances the design of trusted systems across disciplines ranging from computer science to behavioral science. Since its launch in 2012,... Read More »
U.S. Attorney Stuart announces major enforcement action against drug trafficking organization
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced Tuesday a major enforcement action targeting for arrest approximately 100 defendants recently indicted by a federal grand jury in Huntington, West Virginia for drug-related charges, including involvement in the Peterson Drug Trafficking Organization... Read More »
Rep. Cole advocates sustained funding for biodefense and emergency health response
U.S. agencies need a more predictable and accessible source of funds to support a rapid response to public health emergencies, including outbreaks of disease and bioterror attacks, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) said Wednesday. Cole addressed a panel of government officials testifying at a House... Read More »
Information sharing aids coastal surveillance efforts
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said information sharing has proven beneficial to coastal surveillance initiatives. Officials said the Integrated Maritime Domain Enterprise - Coastal Surveillance System (IMDE-CSS) has evolved beyond the... Read More »
Brunei Darussalam makes progress toward Chemical Weapons Convention legislation implementation
Brunei Darussalam created a plan to establish a National Authority and draft implementing legislation on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) during a National Awareness-Raising and Legislative Assistance Workshop held recently April in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Workshop participants... Read More »
House bill seeks to bolster military electromagnetic spectrum operations readiness
The U.S. military would take steps to secure access to the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) needed to use many communication and navigational devices and to ward off enemy attempts at jamming or deception, under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. The U.S.... Read More »
House bill would enhance sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders of immigration crimes
Sentencing guidelines would be strengthened for new crimes committed by undocumented immigrants who were previously convicted of unlawful entry to the country under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. The Peter, Ellie and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $190,000 to London-based effort to improve International Screening Process
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded this week $189,863 to a London startup for efforts to improve the international passenger screening process. The funds were pulled from the S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP), which... Read More »
GAO report finds mixed results on DOD compliance with fiscal requirements related to business systems
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the Department of Defense (DOD) has made progress in complying with provisions for managing its defense business systems but still needs to take additional actions. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year... Read More »Senators propose updates to authorizations for use of military force against terror organizations
U.S. Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced Monday legislation to update the authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) against non-state terrorist groups abroad. The bill, cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE, Todd Young (R-IN), and Bill Nelson... Read More »
NIST releases first major update to cybersecurity framework
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the first major overhaul of its Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity on Monday, which reflects feedback collected over the last two years. Also known as the... Read More »
House bill would require plan to bolster military biodefense readiness, research
The U.S. Department of Defense would be directed to draft a plan outlining specific steps to enhance U.S. military biodefense readiness, response, and research under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 12 in response to evolving threats around the world. Introduced... Read More »
Senators urge action against North Korea-Syria chemical weapons
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on the Trump Administration to take action to stop a “Syria-North Korea sanctions evasion scheme and North Korean efforts to advance Syria’s chemical weapons technology.” Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), David Perdue (R-GA), Cory Gardner... Read More »
DHS releases 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development Program Guide
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently released its 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development (R&D) Program Guide, which introduces the program’s technology projects, goals, and objectives. The Mobile Security R&D Program aims to address... Read More »
Survey reveals American majority favors increased biosecurity funding
In a new nationwide survey released by the Alliance for Biosecurity on Monday, 73 percent of the 1,612 Americans polled said they would support a congressional decision to increase funding to address biosecurity needs and capabilities. The survey comes as Congress faces a looming Sept. 30... Read More »
Members of Congress commend, deride U.S. airstrikes in Syria
The Trump Administration’s decision to target Syrian chemical weapons facilities on Friday has been applauded by Republican lawmakers as a key step in upholding prohibitions on chemical weapons and has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers as “reckless” and potentially illegal. U.S.... Read More »
DEA fugitive on FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently added to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Rafael Caro-Quintero, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar aka “Kiki.” Caro-Quintero... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative welcomes new leadership
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) announced recently several leadership changes within the organization. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen and Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Italy, joined the organization's Board of... Read More »