Policy
Defense Secretary Mattis meets with ASEAN counterparts to discuss defense, security challenges
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and his 10 counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus met Monday at the former Clark Air Base in the Philippines to discuss mutual security challenges and their multilateral defense cooperation. Mattis... Read More »Center for Health Security releases scenario book regarding medical countermeasures in a pandemic
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security recently introduced a self-guided exercise scenario to help public health communicators and risk communication researchers prepare for transmission dilemmas they could face during a pandemic. The SPARS Pandemic scenario book features the outbreak of... Read More »
NGA project aims to prevent acts of violent extremism in US
The National Governors Association (NGA) recently announced the launch of a project aimed at preventing acts of violent extremism in throughout the United States. Developed through a two-year training and engagement grant provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the project... Read More »
Rep. Jenkins introduces bill to create interagency task force to combat illicit fentanyl, heroin trafficking
A bill that establishes an interagency task force of federal law enforcement agencies to help eradicate the illicit trade of fentanyl and heroin throughout the United States was recently introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV). The bill, titled the... Read More »
House advances bill to reauthorize CBP’s cargo vetting program
A bill that seeks to reauthorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) cargo vetting program for the first time in eleven years was recently advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives. Authored by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), the... Read More »
Sen. King presses need for national cyber defense plan
During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) prodded federal officials on the nation’s cyberdefenses and the need for a national doctrine for deterrence of cyber attacks. Witnesses included Christopher Krebs, the senior official undertaking duties of... Read More »
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security advances collaboration with foreign leaders on combatting terrorism
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke recently met with foreign leaders in the United Kingdom and at a G7 meeting in Italy to advance collaborative efforts to fight terrorism. Duke first traveled to London where she met with UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd and other top officials from... Read More »
OPCW Executive Council recommends next director-general for appointment
The Eighty-Sixth Session of the Executive Council (EC) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently reached a consensus recommendation for the next Director-General of the OPCW Technical Secretariat to be appointed. The EC recommended that the Twenty-Second... Read More »
Rep. Walden asks Nuance for information on NotPetya malware outbreak
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) recently sent a letter to Nuance, a health care technology company affected by June’s NotPetya malware outbreak, asking for additional information about the incident. The outbreak affected Nuance’s ability to provide transcription... Read More »
Massachusetts man found guilty of supporting ISIS, conspiracy to commit terrorism
In a Massachusetts case, a 28-year-old man had been convicted of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group, along with terrorism and obstruction charges. David Daoud Wright had been indicted back in April 2016 alongside Nicholas... Read More »
IAEA experts conduct review of Romania’s nuclear, radiological safety infrastructure
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently said that Romania has significantly strengthened its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety, which included the approval of a National Strategy on Nuclear Safety and Security (NSNSS). Conducted by... Read More »
TSA should use sound oversight practices for technology infrastructure modernization plan, GAO report says
According to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should use sound program management and oversight practices in its technology infrastructure modernization (TIM) plan to avoid repeating past... Read More »
Increase in canine explosives detection training seen needed amid rise in passenger travel
Air passenger travel is steadily increasing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and with an influx of passengers comes the need for more highly trained canines to protect the public and support law enforcement, experts say. The FAA reports in an aerospace forecast that passenger... Read More »
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport offering automated TSA screening lanes
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is now one of 10 airports in the country to offer automated security screening lanes in an effort to cut down on passenger processing time. The creation of four automated screening lanes in terminals A and D is a joint effort on behalf of the... Read More »
Chelsea bomber convicted for September 2016 bombing in New York City
A jury in Manhattan federal court returned a guilty verdict Monday against Ahmad Khan Rahimi on all eight counts of the indictment that charged him with offenses related to his execution and attempted execution of bombings in New York City on September 17, 2016. Rahimi faces a mandatory... Read More »
Congressional members request information on data security vetting for government contracts
A group of House Energy and Commerce Committee members sent a letter Monday to the General Services Administration (GSA) to request information on its data security vetting for awarding government contracts. The committee members also sent a letter recently to the Internal Revenue Service... Read More »
Nigerian health authorities launch 10-day immunization effort against yellow fever outbreak
The Government of Nigeria recently announced the launch of a 10-day campaign aimed at immunizing 873,837 people against yellow fever in the states of Kwara and Kogi. Beginning on Oct. 13, the effort mobilized more than 200 health workers and volunteers to immunize individuals between the ages of... Read More »
Rep. Donovan chairs hearing on first responder communication challenges during emergencies
A hearing of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications recently examined the status of emergency communication networks for first responders. Chaired by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), the committee reviewed communications issues observed in the wake of acts of... Read More »
Sen. Nelson asks CDC to prioritize Zika prevention measures
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) recently wrote a letter to the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), following the first case of locally transmitted Zika in 2017, asking the organization to prioritize Zika prevention efforts. "The Zika outbreak isn't over and continues... Read More »National Nuclear Security Administration launches initiative to reduce use of radioactive source-based devices in New York City
Several security and health organizations recently launched an initiative to reduce the use of risk-significant radioactive source-based devices in medical and research applications in order to reduce the risk of terrorists acquiring this material. Radioactive sources are used in various... Read More »
OPCW holds ceremony marking completion of destruction of Russia’s chemical weapons stockpiles
The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently participated in a ceremony marking the completion of the destruction of the Russian Federation’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles under OPCW verification protocols. Held at the residence of... Read More »FirstNet faces challenges in implementing its public safety broadband network, GAO report says
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) faces various challenges in implementing its public safety broadband network, according to a recent review conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO was tasked by Congress to asses FirstNet’s efforts to establish the... Read More »GAO reviews federal development efforts of biological threat awareness
In an effort to help federal agencies identify biodefense capabilities and identify priorities for spending, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study Wednesday tracking national activities that contribute to biological threat awareness. Key players involved in the study... Read More »
Representatives introduce bill to update reporting requirements of multiple long gun sales
Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Bradley S. Schneider (D-IL), and Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) introduced a bill Wednesday that would require federal firearms licensees to report the sale of two or more long guns within a five-day period. This requirement already exists for handguns, but long guns, such... Read More »
Rep. Pallone requests FCC review of wireless communications resiliency
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) recently wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to ask for an evaluation of the resiliency of the United States’ wireless networks. Pallone requested that the commission review the... Read More »
DOJ unseals charges against three men who plotted series of attacks in New York City
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently unsealed federal terrorism charges against three men who allegedly plotted attacks in New York City in summer 2016 in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which were ultimately stopped by law enforcement. The three men, a 19-year... Read More »
Border Security for America Act passed by committee, includes McSally provisions
Amendments to the Border Security for America Act that include provisions to conduct thorough threat assessments, equip front-line agents with the latest technology and ensure accountability from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were recently passed by the House Homeland Security... Read More »
Bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines introduced in Senate
In the wake of the recent shooting in Las Vegas, which left 59 dead and hundreds more injured, a group of 18 Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill that effectively bans the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.... Read More »
Rep. Hurd introduces amendments that provide alternatives to border wall deployment
Building on the Border Security for America Act, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) has proposed two amendments that would seek alternatives to physical border walls in certain areas and give prior national park agreements precedence. “As I have been saying for years, a wall from sea to shining sea is... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances Border Security For America Act
The U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee advanced on Wednesday the Border Security for America Act, which would enhance security infrastructure on the U.S. northern and southern borders. The bill, introduced by Homeland Security Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX), would introduce... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to ban accessories that accelerate rate of fire following Las Vegas shooting
Democratic Senators introduced Wednesday a bill regarding the ban the sale of accessories that accelerate the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons, such as those used by the gunman during the shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday. This bill would prohibit the sale, transfer, importation,... Read More »
State Department needs to improve data collection, participant oversight of its Antiterrorism Assistance program, GAO report says
The U.S. State Department needs to improve data collection and participant oversight of its Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO was tasked by Congress to examine the State Department’s... Read More »
Senate committee advances DHS ethical hacker bill to help identify vulnerabilities within networks
A bipartisan bill that would establish a bug bounty program using “white hat” ethical hackers to search for and identify vulnerabilities within U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) networks was recently advanced by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.... Read More »
TSA phasing in new checkpoint procedure for carry-on electronics
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began implementing new screening procedures at airports across the country that require travelers to place all electronics larger than a mobile phone in bins for X-ray screening at checkpoints. Passengers at various U.S. airports,... Read More »