Policy
Hugh T. Clements Jr. appointed as Justice Department’s Director of Community Oriented Policing Services
Justice Department officials said Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr. has been appointed as the new Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). “The Department’s COPS Office is central to our efforts to strengthen the public trust between communities and law... Read More »
FBI offers $25,000 rewards for tips on attackers of reproductive health service facilities
Last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) turned to the public for information on those responsible for a series of threats against and attacks on reproductive health service facilities nationwide – and it put up $25,000 in rewards for that information. In all, 10 incidents were... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Pallone urges Congress to block sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey
Following up on a group letter from July 2022, United States Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) last week called for Congressional action to block any proposed transfer of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and their components to Turkey. Pallone and more than 30 House colleagues had urged the Biden administration... Read More »
Legislation seeks to establish permanent bump stock ban
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI) recently introduced the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act, which seeks to ban bump stocks permanently. The bill stems from legal efforts to overturn the present bump stock regulatory ban. When attached to semiautomatic... Read More »
DHS awards $1.1M for seven federal labs researching technology commercialization
The United States Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) split $1.1 million between seven federal laboratories this week for federal research that could benefit Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions and homeland security stakeholders – and, potentially, find a market. The latter... Read More »
End of year government funding bill included public health measures from PREVENT Pandemics Act
As lawmakers process the passage of the government funding bill at the tail end of December 2022, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that major portions of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) were included in its... Read More »
DHS launches streamlined deferred action request process to support labor investigations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new process of deferred action requests for noncitizen workers victimized by or witnesses to the violation of labor rights, allowing them greater potential protections against exploitation. The change in process will shift more scrutiny... Read More »
Sens. Markey, Warren, Booker express concerns regarding southern border vigilante group
U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently expressed concerns regarding increased paramilitary vigilante groups patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border. The senators forwarded correspondence to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
House advances legislation prohibiting Strategic Petroleum Reserve products sent to China
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is commending House of Representatives colleagues for advancing a measure prohibiting sending Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) products to China. According to bill provisions, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22)... Read More »
Defense Department touts research, security agreements with Japanese Ministry of defense
Department of Defense (DoD) and Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials are commending recently signed Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E) and Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) agreements. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japan Minister of Defense... Read More »
CBP One mobile application adds scheduling system for border processing
As part of new methods to enhance border enforcement and expand tools for local immigration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week debuted a new scheduling function on the CBP One mobile application to allow appointment requests at land ports of entry. Only specific land ports... Read More »
GAO finds NNSA lacks comprehensive schedule or cost estimate for re-establishing plutonium pit production
Despite being required to develop the ability to make at least 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) current plans fail to follow best practices, increasing the odds of costly increases and delays, according to an investigation from the... Read More »
Officials applaud enactment of FedRAMP Authorization Act
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) officials are espousing the benefits of the FedRAMP Authorization Act being enacted as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Act organizes the FedRAMP program as the authoritative standardized approach to... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection updates internal framework for weighing risks of vehicular pursuits
A new directive from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service determined that changes were needed and clarity provided for weighing the risks of vehicular pursuit but refrained from banning the practice. The decision followed an extensive review of the agency’s past... Read More »
Justice Department details Georgia drug trafficking indictment
Justice Department officials have detailed a Southern District of Georgia federal indictment naming 76 defendants stemming from a drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang. Authorities indicated the indictment includes allegations of multiple deaths from... Read More »
New York funds seek to bolster cybersecurity initiatives
New York state officials are espousing the benefits of $35.2 million in new funding in support of statewide cybersecurity enhancements. “The frequency, magnitude, and impact of cyber-attacks have increased, but we will continue to take bold measures to secure and protect New York’s critical... Read More »
TSA details record Philadelphia airport gun seizures
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said 44 guns detected in carry-on luggage in 2022 at Philadelphia International Airport represent a record for the most guns caught at the security checkpoint. “Our TSA officers are good at their jobs in helping to ensure that passengers get... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators head for Southwest Border on fact-finding mission
A delegation from the Senate headed to the United States-Mexican border this week in Texas and Arizona to explore issues related to security and humanitarian and economic challenges in the region and related to larger immigration concerns. The group, which included U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CN),... Read More »
Northrop Grumman details production of rocket motors for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
Northrop Grumman Corporation officials have detailed the company's production of rocket motors for the Army’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) - noting the action fulfills the full contract production quantity. “We are proactively investing in production facilities and... Read More »
House HELD Act pushes incentives for state, local law enforcement to comply with federal requests to transfer illegal immigrants
In an attempt to hasten the deportation of convicted illegal immigrants, United States Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) reintroduced the Help Ensure Legal Detainers (HELD) Act this week, a bill that would incentivize state and local law enforcement to transfer those immigrants to federal... Read More »
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority secures FEMA energy production funding
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has been awarded over $68.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. "When disaster strikes, it is our foremost priority to ensure the Government of Puerto Rico has the tools necessary to... Read More »
U.S. re-emphasizes commitment to Ukraine with $3B new military package
Through the largest presidential drawdown authority committed to date, the Biden administration greenlit $2.85 billion in military equipment to benefit the Ukrainian military’s defense against the ongoing Russian invasion, along with $225 million in additional foreign military financing. "The... Read More »
DHS prepares for return to processing noncitizens under Title 8, despite public health order hangups
Currently, immigration to the United States is still bound by the requirements of the Title 42 public health order enacted in March 2020, but while the legality of this remains bound up in court, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated this week that it is preparing for a return to Title 8... Read More »
National Institutes of Health touts Home Test to Treat program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is touting the new Home Test to Treat program, a virtual community health intervention that provides free COVID-19 health services and treatments in selected communities. “At-home testing for COVID-19 is now widely available in the United States, as are... Read More »
DEA details Louisville Division fentanyl seizures
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that, last year, the Louisville Division yielded the seizure of 184,382 fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and 316 pounds of Fentanyl powder. “Fentanyl is a national problem, and it’s landed right on our doorstep,” DEA Louisville... Read More »
USCIS proposes immigration, naturalization fees adjustment
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is considering a proposed fee rule adjusting certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. “In addition to improving customer service operations and managing the incoming workload, USCIS must continue to fulfill our growing... Read More »
South Texas CBP officers note major uptick of illegal immigrants encountered and cocaine seized
Last year brought serious increases in encounters along south Texas ports of entry, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, who reported 10,243 pounds of cocaine seized and 57,732 non-U.S. citizens encountered in violation of immigration laws. The figures spanned the... Read More »
Oshkosh Defense secures $102M Joint Light Tactical Vehicles order
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal has placed a $102 million order with Oshkosh Defense for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to be delivered to international U.S. allies. The JLTVs, known for their mobility, protection, reliability, and interoperability as a Light... Read More »
Justice Department launches civil lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen, subsidiaries for violations of Controlled Substances Act
In a civil complaint filed last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a nationwide lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, which together form one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors, for violating federal law on the distribution of controlled... Read More »
Countering Human Trafficking Act becomes law, growing federal efforts against trafficking and forced labor-made goods
President Joe Biden signed the Counter Human Trafficking Act of 2022 as one of the final legislative acts of the year, officially codifying and expanding the United States Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT). With this update came $14 million... Read More »
CDC sticks COVID-19 test requirements on air passengers from China
Even as China reopens itself to travel following years of heavy restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its citizens face a new roadblock from entry to the United States: a demand for negative COVID-19 tests for any flier. The restriction was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
President Biden signs Consolidated Appropriations Act, including many health care provisions, following House passage
President Joe Biden signed Thursday a critical omnibus into law, setting up the Congressionally approved Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617) to fund the government and, importantly, numerous health care and consumer protection efforts. “As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee,... Read More »
Lawmakers tout Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act enactment
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded their Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, which aids disaster mitigation projects, being signed into law. Specifically, the legislation makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI)... Read More »
Quantum Computer Cybersecurity Preparedness Act encourages proactive federal cybersecurity
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act became law this week in the United States, establishing a series of new priorities and requirements for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to guide federal cybersecurity to post-quantum cryptography. Specifically, the legislation–... Read More »