Policy
GAO recommends improvements to management of nuclear weapons life extension programs
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended on Tuesday that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) begin to independently validate that life extension programs (LEPs) for nuclear weapons are meeting management best practices. Given that LEPs used to refurbish or replace... Read More »
Homeland Security Department announces new security procedures for Refugee Admissions Program
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced Monday additional security procedures and recommendations for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The additions include additional screening for certain nationals of countries identified as high-risk, a periodic review and... Read More »
Government-wide personnel security clearance process lands on GAO’s “High Risk List”
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) added government-wide personnel security clearance to its “High Risk List” on Thursday, which designates programs in need of transformational changes to reduce the risk of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. GAO typically updates the High Risk... Read More »
International public-private cybersecurity partnership launched at World Economic Forum
An international public-private partnership called the Global Centre for Cybersecurity was launched last week during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to assess and tackle global cybersecurity challenges. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen highlighted U.S. efforts to... Read More »
Air Force requests additional funding for A-10C Thunderbolt squadrons in fiscal year 2019
After warning last year that lack of funding could force three of nine A-10C Thunderbolt squadrons to be grounded, the United States Air Force said that it would include funding for additional wings in its fiscal year 2019 budget request on Friday. To maintain current levels, Congress included... Read More »
Treasury Department sanctions six individuals for providing support to terrorist groups
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently sanctioned six individuals, designating them as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. OFAC designated four of the individuals -- Abdul Samad Sani, Abdul... Read More »
Rep. Royce calls for blacklisting, countermeasures to protect international financial systems from Iran
In order to shield international financial markets from Iranian money laundering and terrorist financing, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) said last week that the Financial Action Task Force must continue to blacklist Iran and re-impose countermeasures. Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs... Read More »
Robles to serve as CBP director of field operations in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
After a career spanning more than 30 years with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Customs Service, Alfonso Robles was tapped Thursday to serve as CBP’s director of field operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Robles’ appointment marks his second posting in... Read More »
Kansas Highway Patrol updates communications with FirstNet
The Kansas Highway Patrol recently announced its decision to subscribe to FirstNet, a nationwide public safety broadband network designed specifically for first responders, become the first agency in Kansas to do so. The update to their communications gives them access to a secure network that... Read More »
Senate report uncovers USPS, CBP flaws contributing to fentanyl trafficking
Chinese fentanyl sellers commonly use United States Postal Service (USPS) to traffic the drug into the United States because USPS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have not yet adopted widespread use of advanced electronic data (AED), according to a Senate report released on Wednesday. ... Read More »
Treasury imposes new sanctions on entities, individuals linked to North Korea
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Wednesday 16 individuals, nine entities, and six shipping companies that have been linked to North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction and other illicit activities. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said... Read More »
Sen. Tester discusses border security plan with Homeland Security, Senate leaders
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) met this week with Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen and a bipartisan group of Senators to develop a border security plan. Tester is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which sets funding levels for security and... Read More »
House E&C Committee leaders question tech companies’ response to Meltdown, Spectre vulnerabilities
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked tech companies on Wednesday to explain their response to vulnerabilities known as Meltdown and Spectre that left devices using the companies’ processors susceptible to data theft. The CEOs of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Intel,... Read More »
Homeland Security’s S&T unites with Israeli partners on numerous projects
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced this week that it will be working bilaterally with Israeli counterparts through five separate divisions on projects meant to aid public security. While the United States and Israel began annual bilateral... Read More »
House approves bill to strengthen US cybersecurity diplomacy
The House of Representatives approved a bill on Tuesday that would clarify and codify State Department roles in advancing U.S. cybersecurity interests and require regular reports to Congress. The Cyber Diplomacy Act, H.R. 3776, would require State Department briefings on cyberspace policy... Read More »
Homeland Security Department issues waiver to expedite border construction project in Mexico
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday that it has issued a waiver to expedite the construction of barriers and roads near the international border near the Santa Teresa, New Mexico port of entry. The waiver covers a variety of environmental, natural resources and land... Read More »
Senate committee probes ongoing efforts to shore up surface transportation security
A congressional panel probed ongoing efforts to secure the nation’s transportation networks Tuesday in response to the rise of terrorist attacks around the world targeting rail, mass transit, and highways. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation... Read More »
House representatives question what DHS is doing about defunct election integrity commission
Democrats on the Congressional Task Force for Election Security are seeking answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristjen Nielsen regarding its responsibilities related to the now-defunct Presidential Commission on Election Integrity. The commission was established to... Read More »
PAHPA hearing witnesses question U.S. government’s preparedness, response commitment
Decreased and episodic funding from the United States government has stakeholders questioning the true commitment federal lawmakers have for sustaining the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities during a catastrophic event linked to infectious diseases, natural disasters or chemical,... Read More »
Brazilian authorities launch vaccination effort to prevent widespread yellow fever outbreak
With 35 confirmed cases of yellow fever and 20 deaths reported in Brazil from July 1, 2017, through Jan. 14, public health officials have launched an intensive vaccination campaign in an effort to head-off a widespread outbreak. Yellow fever cases have been confirmed in São Paulo, Rio de... Read More »
Nuclear Security Workshop in Oslo focuses on forensics, cybersecurity
Nuclear security experts from Scandinavia and the United States took part in a workshop hosted in Oslo last week that focused on leveraging international cooperation to enhance nuclear security and nuclear forensics. Page Stoutland, vice president of scientific and technical affairs at the... Read More »
Baltimore CBP seizes nearly 3,000 counterfeit stainless steel sinks
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore recently seized 2,990 stainless steel sinks for displaying a counterfeit UPC shield design that, if authentic, would have a suggested retail price of approximately $1.1 million. The shipment of sinks arrived in Baltimore from... Read More »
DHS begins enforcement of REAL ID requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses, identification cards
All 50 states and all but one U.S. territories are on schedule to meet “REAL ID” requirements for driver’s licenses and identification cards to prevent fraud by terrorists and other perpetrators, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week. DHS began to enforce... Read More »
Social Media leaders testify about efforts to curb terrorist recruiting, propaganda online
Leaders of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube recently appeared before a Senate panel to highlight efforts to curb terrorist recruitment, to ban users with extremist ideology, and to remove “how-to manuals” and other terrorism-related content. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation... Read More »
Florida delegation seeks DOD input to prevent military impact from potential coastal drilling
Every member of the Florida congressional delegation signed a letter spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) seeking Defense Department (DOD) Secretary Jim Mattis’ support in making sure that a recent Department of Interior proposal does not impair military... Read More »
Reps. Roskam, Cheney introduce Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act
U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) led a group of 20 other Republicans in introducing the Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act (H.R. 4821). H.R. 4821 aims to increase pressure on Iran for human rights abuses, support for terrorism and ballistic missile program. It would also... Read More »
DOD Research and Engineering Nominee pledges to advance directed energy weapons program
The directed energy weapons program, meant to upgrade the military with high energy laser and high powered microwave weapons technology, has received a commitment of support from a nominee within the Department of Defense. Michael Griffin, nominated for Under Secretary of Defense for Research... Read More »
National disaster health care system needed, experts tell Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense
A stratified biodefense hospital system would provide the United States with a protective shield in the event the country experiences a man-made or natural biological catastrophe, panelists told members of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense. The suggestion is one the panelists strongly... Read More »
Sen. Barrasso declares support for investigation into effects of uranium imports
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released Tuesday a statement in support of the petition by multiple uranium producers for an investigation into the effects of uranium imports on U.S. national security. On Monday, American uranium... Read More »
DoJ seeks extradition of alleged al Qaeda associate accused of conspiring to kill US nationals
A 51-year-old Polish national, who has been imprisoned on terrorism charges in France since 2003, faces four counts in U.S. federal courts, including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, under a superseding indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday. Christian Ganczarski is also charged with... Read More »
Over 550 pounds of cocaine seized at Miami Seaport
Agents of the U.S. Customers and Border Protection (CBP) service raided a cargo vessel at the Miami Seaport this week, confiscating $6.25 million worth of cocaine. The 550 pounds of illegal narcotic were hidden in bags hidden behind metal tubing aboard the vessel. In all, those bags contained... Read More »
New law gives CBP more resources to curb fentanyl trafficking
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will soon have access to new resources to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that are being trafficked into the United States under a bill that was signed into law last week. Under the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response... Read More »
DHS, DoJ issue report on terrorism convictions of foreign nationals to make case for enhanced vetting, screening
Seventy-five percent of those convicted of international terrorism or related charges in U.S. federal courts from 2001 to 2016 were born in foreign countries, according to a report released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday. The report was... Read More »
Senate health committee begins reapproval process for nation’s hazards preparedness law
Public health, when threatened not by Obamacare but by exposure to infectious diseases, natural disasters or chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents, is an area where members of Congress have been able to build bipartisanship. Continuing such cross-party work will be... Read More »