Policy
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 »
Introduction of consumer privacy bill in Senate follows Equifax data breach
Companies would be required to take minimum steps to prevent data breaches that expose the personal information of customers and to make timely notifications when breaches occur, under a bill introduced in the Senate on Tuesday. The Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2017 would establish... Read More »
Provision to delay potential closure of Ft. Detrick biodefense lab included in NDAA Conference Report
In a move that would head-off the potential closure of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick, the House of Representatives approved a mandatory study of the facility and the nation’s biodefense vulnerabilities on Tuesday. The House approved the... Read More »
DHS, FBI release joint technical alerts on malicious cyber activity by North Korea
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released Tuesday a pair of Joint Technical Alerts detailing tools and infrastructure used by the North Korean government to conduct malicious cyber activity. The activity noted in the alerts is part of a... Read More »
Acting DHS secretary tours Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
During a visit to Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) headquarters in Glynco, Georgia, on Tuesday, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke received an operation briefing, observed training programs, and toured a port of entry training simulator. FLETC trains most of the... Read More »
Lawmakers raise questions about discontinued NIH funding for gun violence research
Questions were raised by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday about reports that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discontinued funding for research on gun violence under the Trump Administration. In a letter to NIH Director Francis Collins, U.S. Reps. Frank... Read More »
Senators urge Federal Elections Commission to close regulatory loophole for online political ads
A group of 15 Democratic senators urged the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Monday to subject online political ads to the same requirements as political ads aired on television, radio and satellite. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) submitted... Read More »
Senate report addresses lack of information on cost and timeline for border wall land seizure
The Democratic staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released a report Monday detailing a lack of information from the Trump Administration on costs and timeline for land seizures needed for the proposed border wall. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)... Read More »
House bill would better target money laundering, terrorism financing
Financial institutions would have more latitude to share suspicious activity reports when money laundering or terrorism financing is suspected, and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) would be modernized, under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security extends job offers to hundreds of veterans
Following a job fair called “Continue Your Service to America” held in August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that job offers had been extended to 207 veterans. Approximately 2,500 veterans attended the two-day job fair. Onsite job interviews were given to... Read More »
Upcoming OPCW Conference of State Parties to consider new efforts to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles
Progress in eliminating chemical weapons stockpiles and the appointment of a new director general will highlight the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) upcoming 22nd Conference of the States Parties (CSP-22) scheduled from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. Hamid Ali Rao, the deputy... Read More »OPCW Deputy Director-General visits Mexico
The Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Hamid Ali Rao, recently visited Mexico where he discussed the importance of preparedness against chemical emergencies and peaceful uses of chemistry. Rao opened the Table Top Exercise on Chemical... Read More »
Rep. Dingell introduces legislation to strengthen electronic voting systems
New legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) this week is seeking to update voter system protections and out-of-date infrastructure. U.S. intelligence community assessments have found that at least 21 state election systems were attacked by Russian-affiliated hackers in the 2016... Read More »