Policy
Republicans ask for information about TSA’s cybersecurity measures
Republicans in the House Homeland Security Committee are requesting information from the Transportation Security Administration on its measures and resiliency following recent cybersecurity incidents. U.S. Reps. Mark Green, MD (R-TN), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Andre Garbarino (R-NY), and Sheri... Read More »
Social research projects cut from Department of Defense
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced its Office of the Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering will discontinue its entire social science research portfolio. The portfolio consists of 91 studies concerning social trends, access to food, climate change impacts, global... Read More »
Coast Guard Reauthorization bill passes Senate
With a possible government shutdown looming, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan Coast Guard Reauthorization Act to fund the U.S. Coast Guard through 2026. The bill, introduced last month by U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin... Read More »
ISIS-K member charged for role in attack on U.S. service members in Afghanistan
The United States charged Mohammad Sharifullah on March 2. Sharifullah is a member of Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a terrorist organization. He was charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist... Read More »
Canadian nationals charged in multi-million dollar “grandparent scam”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have uncovered a scam by nearly two dozen Canadian nationals that allegedly defrauded Americans of more than $21 million. Officials said 23 Canadian nationals were indicted by a federal grand jury in Vermont and arrested provisionally by Canadian law... Read More »
Bill ensuring Coast Guard personnel gets paid during government shutdown reintroduced
Members of the Senate Commerce Committee reintroduced bipartisan legislation ensuring Coast Guard personnel would receive pay in the event of a government shutdown Tuesday. U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair and ranking member of the committee, along with Sens. Roger... Read More »
Legislation would assess how terrorists groups use technology
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would examine how foreign terrorist organizations use the internet and emerging technology to recruit, radicalize, and inspire attacks in the homeland. The Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act would require the... Read More »
Legislation introduced to improve DHS Intel office
U.S. Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Laurel Lee (R-FL) re-introduced legislation this week they said would improve transparency and oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). The legislation would require the office... Read More »
Legislation introduced to combat online radicalization
In response to the treat posed to the U.S. by terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Qaeda, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced legislation to examine how foreign terrorist organizations use the internet and other technology to recruit and radicalize members against the U.S. Pfluger,... Read More »
Legislation would prevent individuals tied to Hamas from entering United States
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would prevent any migrant tied to Hamas from entering the United States. The No Immigration Benefits For Hamas Terrorists Act would prohibit any migrant who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support... Read More »
Bill addressing the threat of vehicular terrorism introduced
U.S. Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) and Mark Green (R-TN) introduced last week legislation addressing the rising threat of vehicular terrorism. Coming on the heels of the attack on New Orleans on New Year’s Day, the Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation... Read More »
Legislation would provide small law enforcement agencies with funding opportunities
Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate would increase grant funding for small law enforcement agencies. The majority of law enforcement agencies nationwide have less 175 full-time sworn officers. The Invest to Protect Act would establish a grant program through the... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee advances Cyber Pivott Act
The Cyber Pivott Act, legislation strengthening the cybersecurity workforce, advanced out of the House Committee on Homeland Security this week. The legislation, formally H.R. 1000, the Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce... Read More »
State Department increases pressure on Iran oil sanctions
The U.S. State Department announced increased pressure on entities and vessels involved in Iran’s oil industry Monday. The State Department and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said they were sanctioning a total of 22 people and identified 13 vessels as... Read More »
Legislation would create Office of Public Safety Communications
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would establish the Office of Public Safety Communications. The Public Safety Communications Act would amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Organization Act to create an Office of Public... Read More »
Legislation reintroduced to strengthen security at major events
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) reintroduced legislation that would strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s ability to support security at major sporting and entertainment events. The DHS Special Events Program and Support bill would permanently codify... Read More »
Legislation aims to stop Chinese espionage
A bipartisan, bicameral bill reintroduced on Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to stop Chinese Communist Party (CCP) espionage, intellectual property theft and economic warfare against the United States. The Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act would... Read More »
Legislation would enhance counterterrorism efforts
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s counterterrorism efforts. The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act would require an evaluation of the threat posed to the United States by individuals in Syria with ties to... Read More »
Congress members urge USDA to fight avian flu outbreak
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and a bipartisan group of Congress members asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to explore all available options to address the latest avian flu outbreak. In a Feb. 18 letter, the group said the USDA should explore all the mitigation and prevention... Read More »
Justice Department fines companies $11M for cybersecurity violations
The U.S. Department of Justice said Health Net Federal Services Inc. (HNFS) and Centene Corporation will pay more than $11 million to resolve claims they violated cybersecurity requirements. The DOJ said HNFS, based in Rancho Cordova, Calif., and its parent company Centene, based in St. Louis,... Read More »
Legislation to reform school safety introduced on school shooting anniversary
Legislation to reform school safety measures was introduced last week, officials said. The legislation, the Measures for Safer School Districts Act, introduced by U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) would modernize the school safety... Read More »
Firefighters with service-related cancers supported under federal bill
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) introduced legislation on Feb. 12 that would expand access to federal support for the families of first responders who suffer from service-related cancers. The bill, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, would make firefighters and other first responders eligible... Read More »
Coast Guard Reauthorization Act introduced in U.S. Senate
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, legislation that would bolster funding for the military branch’s critical missions, was introduced by leaders on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 11. Drafted and agreed to between the Senate Commerce Committee, on which U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz... Read More »
Bill introduced in Congress to protect space systems as critical infrastructure
U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) introduced legislation that would designate space systems, services and technology as a sector of the U.S. critical infrastructure. The bill, the Space Infrastructure Act, H.R. 1154, would ensure the security and resiliency of space assets, advocates said. The... Read More »
FEMA borrows $2 billion to pay flood insurance claims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently borrowed $2 billion from the U.S. Treasury to pay eligible National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholder claims. “The widespread, devastating flooding following hurricanes Helene and Milton reemphasizes the financial effects flooding... Read More »
Cyber PIVOTT legislation reintroduced in Congress
U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chair of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, has reintroduced the Cyber PIVOTT Act to address the country’s cybersecurity workforce shortage. First introduced in the 118th Congress, the Cyber PIVOTT Act would establish a new full-scholarship program for... Read More »
Cocaine valued at $1.4M seized by U.S. CBP in Texas at Mexico border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field operations officers seized cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.4 million at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry between Texas and Mexico on Thursday. The seizure occurred on Camino Real International Bridge. A CBP officer referred for secondary... Read More »
Legislation to combat fentanyl passed in House
Legislation led by U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) to halt the flow of fentanyl into the country has passed in the House. The legislation, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act, would make the temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related... Read More »
Legislation would reduce cost of medical services provided outside of Military Treatment Facilities
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would work to reduce reimbursement costs for TRICARE and Community Care plans that cover medical services provided outside of Military Treatment Facilities. The Servicemember Site-Neutrality Act would direct the secretary of... Read More »
DHS Inspector General issues final report on Insufficient Oversight of FEMA COVID-19 grants
A new report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found that a lack of sufficient oversight of FEMA’s COVID-19 Emergency Protective Measures Grants led to more than $8.1 billion in questionable costs and $1.5 billion in over-obligated funds. The OIG... Read More »
Legislation would conduct study of certain foreign technologies
Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would safeguard communications networks from foreign adversary-controlled technology. The Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act would require the Department of... Read More »
Legislation reintroduced targeting fentanyl producers in China
Legislation to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for fentanyl coming into the United States was reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Wednesday. The legislation would amend the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to allows the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Chinese individuals and... Read More »
Trump orders building of Iron Dome Missile Defense shield
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday instructing the military to begin building an “Iron Dome” for the United States. The order directs the military to do “a review of theater missile defense posture to defend United States troops deployed abroad and an increase in... Read More »
Legislation seeks to make assaulting law enforcement officers deportable offense
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would make it a deportable offense for a non-citizen to assault a law enforcement officer. The Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2025 would explicitly designate the assault of a law enforcement... Read More »