Policy
US losing ground in artificial intelligence race
With billions of dollars flowing into a focus on artificial intelligence, China poses both a military and commercial threat to the United States where artificial intelligence is concerned, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. While the exact amounts invested remain hazy, experts dub... Read More »
NATO agrees to purchase Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds from Lockheed Martin for member countries
Lockheed Martin and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) recently signed a five-year agreement for NATO to purchase Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTRs) on behalf of member countries. Under the agreement, which is in effect through 2021,... Read More »
Senate bill would establish criminal penalties for corporate employees concealing data breaches
Businesses would have to adhere to new customer notification requirements for data breaches under a bill introduced in the Senate on Thursday, and corporate employees could face new criminal penalties for deliberately concealing breaches. Democratic members of the Senate Commerce, Science and... Read More »
Modernization of Douglas Port of Entry advances with GSA’s naming of contractor
Efforts to modernize the Douglas Port of Entry in southeastern Arizona advanced on Friday with the General Services Administration (GSA) awarding a contract to Tuscon-based architectural firm Line and Space to conduct a feasibility study. The feasibility study will aim to evaluate and identify... Read More »
Military leaders warn US space dominance could be lost without action
With U.S. adversaries making steady gains in space capabilities in the decades following the first Gulf War, military leaders called for swifter action to secure U.S. space dominance and for reforms to procurement processes on Saturday. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Air Force Gen. John... Read More »
Acting DHS secretary voices support for ending Diversity Visa Lottery Program
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Director Elaine Duke testified before a House committee on Thursday that the Diversity Visa Lottery Program is “rife with fraud,” backing a bill that would eliminate the program. During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Duke said that... Read More »
Romania agrees to purchase Raytheon’s Patriot missile defense system
Romania agreed to purchase Raytheon Co.’s Patriot integrated air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army on Wednesday, a move that sets the stage for contract negotiations between Raytheon and the U.S. government. Under the letter of offer and acceptance that the Romanian government... Read More »
NNSA’s Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) team leads strategic preparedness training event in Hawaii
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) team recently led three days of training on countering a potential nuclear threat for more than 70 local, state, and federal responders in Hawaii. RAP held the event at the request of the state of... Read More »
House committee to markup bill revising intelligence gathering under FISA
A provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) used by the intelligence community to gather intelligence on terrorists located outside the United States would be amended under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The FISA Amendments Reauthorization... Read More »
Bills aiming to crackdown on money laundering, financing of illicit activities subject of subcommittee hearing
Witnesses testified before a House subcommittee on Wednesday about the impact that two bills would have on efforts to eliminate access to banks by terrorist organizations, human traffickers, and drug cartels. The Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and Terrorism and Illicit Finance... Read More »
National security executives offer dire forecasts during Homeland Security Committee hearing
Top executives of the government’s national security agencies offered troubling assessments of the growing threats from terrorism, both internationally and domestically, during a congressional hearing on Thursday. “Today, the magnitude of the threat we face from terrorism is equal to, and in... Read More »
DHS Science & Technology Directorate earns honors from American Security Today
At an American Security Today ceremony earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) found its efforts lauded, taking away four awards for current projects. The annual ASTOR Homeland Security Awards recognizes physical, IT, and port... Read More »
Terry Wallace named director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, president of Los Alamos National Security
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Terry Wallace has been appointed director of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and president of Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS), which operates the laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Norman J. Pattiz and Barbara E. Rusinko,... Read More »
Canadian hacker pleads guilty to aiding Russian officers in compromising webmail accounts
A Canadian national and resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of computer hacking and other criminal offenses related to helping Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to access webmail accounts. Karim Baratov, also known as Kay, Karim Taloverov, and Karim Akehmet Tokbergenov, was charged... Read More »
House bill would restore funding for federal programs that support surface transportation security
Programs that work to secure railroads, buses, public areas of airports and other “soft targets” for terrorist attacks would be revamped and restored under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. The Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017 seeks to... Read More »
Senators call for strategic plan, stricter sanctions after latest North Korea missile test
Following North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test on Monday, lawmakers called for action on legislation that would require a strategy to confront the nuclear threat and step-up sanctions on North Korea. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces... Read More »
Steep cuts to Prevention and Public Health Fund as part of House bill draws concerns
More than $6 billion in cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) included in legislation passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month could hinder how the United States responds to public health crises, an infectious disease expert says. The CHAMPIONING Healthy Kids... Read More »
ECBC researchers earn Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for interagency coordination
Researchers at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) were recently recognized for developing testing methods for low-volatility agent permeation (LVAP) in clothing and protective gear, and for pioneering a system to use 3D printing to produce tactical gear. The researchers were recognized... Read More »Serbian civil servants complete NATO cyber defense advanced training
Civilians working for the Serbian government recently completed an advanced information systems security (INFOSEC) training session organized by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme in Belgrade and Tallinn. Twelve representatives from Serbia’s Office of the National... Read More »
Funding cuts for President’s Malaria Initiative would result in 67 million additional malaria cases
A congressional proposal to cut the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) by 44 percent would lead to 67 million additional malaria cases in the next four years, according to a recent mathematical model’s estimates. PMI was launched in 2005 with a goal to reduce malaria by 50 percent in 15... Read More »States Parties in Asia discuss path to adoption of national chemical weapons legislation
States Parties from Asia gathered earlier this month to discuss potential adoption of national legislation regarding chemical weapons during a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) forum held in The Hague in the Netherlands. The Stakeholders Forum for States Parties in Asia on the Adoption of... Read More »
Bill to allow emergency medical responders to administer controlled substances signed into law
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act, which allows emergency medical responders to administer controlled substances under the supervision of a physician. U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)... Read More »
DoJ awards most hiring grants to law enforcement agencies committed to working with federal immigration officers
More than $98 million in grants announced by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday will help 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation hire 802 additional police officers in the coming years. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the funds would be awarded to state, local, and... Read More »
Following New York City bike path attack, House bill would eliminate Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
A visa program that allowed a terrorist who killed eight people on New York City bike path to enter the country would be eliminated under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. Sayfullo Saipov immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan through the Diversity Immigrant... Read More »
Election Security Task Force calls for $400 million in upgrades to state voting systems
In response to reports that Russia targeted voting systems in 21 states during the 2016 elections, leaders of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security called on House appropriators to fund state efforts to secure voting infrastructure on Monday. Approximately $400 million remains... Read More »
Commitment to end Tuberculosis by 2030 announced at World Health Organization conference
At a recent World Health Organization (WHO) conference in Moscow, Russia, 75 ministers committed to increase multisectoral action, progress and build accountability in an effort to end Tuberculosis (TB) by 2030. The Moscow Declaration to End TB came at the first WHO Global Ministerial... Read More »
DHS to hold additional Android Team Awareness Kit training sessions
After the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) was successfully used to coordinate multi-agency responses to recent hurricanes, additional training sessions have been held for federal, state, and local officials, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday. ATAK, which was... Read More »
House leaders press Equifax for information about data breach, post-breach details
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raised questions and requested additional information on Friday about the Equifax data breach that exposed the personal information of 145.5 million Americans earlier this year. In a letter to Paulino do Rego Barros Jr., the interim CEO of... Read More »
Sen. Cantwell highlights need to develop cybersecurity workforce to meet energy sector’s needs
With 10,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions at electric utilities, and cyber threats to the energy grid and critical infrastructure growing daily, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) recently called for action to reinforce the nation’s cybersecurity. Cantwell delivered her remarks to energy... Read More »New York City Economic Development Corporation launches efforts to support growth of cybersecurity industry
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking partners for a range of city initiatives designed to facilitate the growth of New York City's cybersecurity industry. The plan is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Cyber NYC initiative and... Read More »
Congressional panel probes effectiveness of cyber threat indicator sharing among public, private entities
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) was recently the focus of a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure hearing that examined how effectively cyber threat information sharing practices are advancing national security.... Read More »NCTC Director Rasmussen announces retirement
Following a career in counterterrorism and diplomacy that spanned more than two decades, Nicholas Rasmussen recently announced his resignation from his position as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) at the end of the year. NCTC Deputy Director Russ Travers will serve as... Read More »
PwC analysis finds defense spending likely to increase in majority of countries
According to recent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the compound annual growth rate of defense spending will likely increase in 58 of 71 nations between 2017-2021 as the global defense environment becomes increasingly complex. PwC Global Defense Perspectives 2017 analyzes defense... Read More »
Rep. Langevin lauds revamped Vulnerabilities Equities Process
The National Security Council’s release of a new charter for the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP) drew praise from U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) on Wednesday for bolstering transparency and for bringing diverse stakeholders into the conversation. Cybersecurity Advisor Rob Joyce... Read More »