Policy
Congress members call for Russia to be designated state sponsor of terrorism
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. State Department to determine whether or not Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the... Read More »
National Drug Control Strategy forwarded to Congress
President Joe Biden has forwarded to Congress his administration's first National Drug Control Strategy, which is an initiative focused on a whole-of-government approach to address the overdose epidemic. “This Strategy goes after two big drivers of the opioid epidemic: untreated addiction and... Read More »
DoD opens new Defense Innovation Unit office in Chicago
Chicago gained a satellite office for the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) last week, which the agency will use to identify new solutions, companies, and people in the Midwest capable of helping with national security challenges. "The opening of this Defense... Read More »
ASPR celebrates construction of new research and development facility for production of prefilled injectors
The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) celebrated the completion of the initial design and construction last week for a new ApiJect Technology Development Center that promises greater manufacturing capacity for prefilled injectors used to administer vaccines... Read More »
Rep. Katko commends enactment of Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the enactment of his Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) expands support for Shadow Wolves officers performing critical duties and bolsters the southern border. The Shadow Wolves, part of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, are a Native American tactical... Read More »
U.S. intelligence community, international partners issue advisory on demonstrated Russian cyber threats
A joint cybersecurity advisory was issued this week by a collection of various U.S. intelligence and security agencies, as well as international partners, providing a comprehensive overview of Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats to critical infrastructure. This focus on Russia... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $260M funding for Counter-Unmanned System Threats
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded $259,831,989 to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to support S&T’s Counter-Unmanned System Threats (C-UST) efforts. Amentum Services, Inc.,... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for DHS radiation portal monitor acquisition
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding radiation portal monitor acquisition efforts. The recommendations stem from DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) replacing radiation portal... Read More »
House Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act proposes federal system migration to quantum-resistant cryptography
In an effort to safeguard information on federal systems, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation this week promoting a transition of governmental IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. The Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act... Read More »
Law enforcement collaboration targets human trafficking
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., recently partnered with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association to detect, deter and raise human trafficking awareness. Operation Safe Passage is a high‐visibility... Read More »
Sen. Tester expresses support for opening northern border ports
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus, advocating pre-pandemic operations resume at Montana ports of entry. “We have made significant headway in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, yet most ports of entry in... Read More »
Rep. Kim introduces bill to improve enforcement coordination, crack down on retail crime
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 7499), a bipartisan bill to improve how law enforcement handles organized retail crime. According to a 2019 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Buy Safe... Read More »
KBR secures Army recompete task order
The U.S. Army has awarded science, technology, and engineering solutions firm KBR a $62 million, five-year recompete task order to provide conception-to-completion development, testing, engineering, and analysis services. KBR would execute duties to aid the U.S. Army Program Executive Office... Read More »
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans seek hearing regarding Title 42 rescission
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans recently forwarded correspondence to Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), requesting a hearing regarding the Biden administration’s decision to rescind the Title 42 Public Health Order. The senators said that termination of the Title 42 order would likely result... Read More »
Bipartisan senators seek appointment of Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator
In the wake of continued fighting in Ukraine, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are urging President Joe Biden to appoint a Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator to aid support efforts. “Even after their initial defeat,... Read More »
Sens. Hoeven, Moran, colleagues seek DHS southern border policy revisions insight
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) joined 11 colleagues in forwarding correspondence last week to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking insight regarding recent southern border policy revisions. The letter was sent to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas,... Read More »
Republican coalition of senators question DHS over how it enforces border security
Citing concerns over record attempts to cross the United States-Mexico border illegally, 13 Republican senators wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the department’s changes to border security policies, processing, and enforcement. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border... Read More »
CBP details seizure of 1.3 tons of cocaine in Eastern Pacific
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detailed a recent counterdrug collaboration between Air and Marine Operations (AMO), federal and international law enforcement partners yielding a $30 million Pacific cocaine seizure. Authorities indicated an AMO National Air Security Operations MQ-9... Read More »
Project Titanic in development to ensure no other North Atlantic ships need fear icebergs
Hitting back at what once destroyed its historic forebear, Project Titanic – an initiative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) – is under development to improve maritime safety and navigation in the North Atlantic Ocean through modern... Read More »
Defense Department outlines progression of Project Pele initiative
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) announce plans to build a safe-by-design nuclear microreactor through the Project Pele initiative. “Thanks to the tireless work of the contract teams, the valuable input from local stakeholders, and the talented and... Read More »
Senate Intelligence Committee members push for supporting Ukraine through increase intelligence sharing
Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led by Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), wrote to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines this week urging U.S. intelligence agencies to actively share helpful intelligence with their Ukrainian counterparts. Meant to more... Read More »
Justice Department seizes major hacker forum, marketplace
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced this week that it had successfully seized the online marketplace known as RaidForums and brought criminal charges against its founder and chief administrator, Diogo Santos Coelho of Portugal. Coelho was arrested in the U.K. back in January at U.S.... Read More »
Northrop Grumman details facility construction in New Mexico
Northrop Grumman Corporation officials said the technology company has initiated construction on a new facility supporting Kirtland Air Force Base and military customers in Albuquerque, N.M. The company said the 25,000-square-foot site is slated to open in early 2023 to support national security... Read More »Lawmakers advocate Israeli military capabilities for Iran defense
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, advocating for the administration to provide Israel with the military capabilities needed to defend itself from Iran. U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) have joined nine Republican colleagues in... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Cassidy, Duckworth and Brown introduce bill authorizing research into COVID-affiliated mental illnesses
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a bill this week to fund research on the COVID-19 impacts on mental health and brain function. “The pandemic showed us the need to prioritize mental health and support those suffering,” Cassidy... Read More »
OPCW launches training initiative to educate new generation of experts on Chemical Weapons Convention
Backed by the European Union, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) created and launched a new training initiative this week to raise awareness among universities, academics, and researchers about the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and global disarmament. “We live... Read More »
DOJ issues new guidance on modernization of firearm definition
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new guidance to the Federal Register Frame or Receiver Final Rule modernizing the definition of a firearm. “One year ago, the Department committed to address the proliferation of ghost guns used in violent crimes,” Attorney General Merrick B.... Read More »
Lawmakers encourage DoD provide Ukraine air defense aid
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, encouraging the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide aircraft, air defense systems, and drones to Ukraine. The letter stemmed from requests... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators introduce Preventing Future Pandemics Act to counter zoonotic disease spread
By supporting conservation in other nations, a bipartisan group of senators has proposed – through the Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2022 (S.4074) – that the risk of zoonotic disease transmission could be reduced for humans. As introduced, the bill would authorize the U.S. government to... Read More »
Countering Human Trafficking Act advances through Senate
The Senate advanced the Countering Human Trafficking Act last week, raising the possibility of a permanent Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) to oversee federal counter-human trafficking efforts and a crackdown on goods made with forced labor. Currently, the CCHT – a part of the... Read More »
Smiths Detection launches iCMORE Currency software
Threat detection and security screening technologies firm Smiths Detection said it has launched iCMORE Currency, a new automated detection algorithm currency recognition software. “We are very pleased to announce iCMORE Currency, the latest round of enhancements for our HI-SCAN series," Smiths... Read More »
Sens. Cassidy, Burr ask Biden administration to support their bill to make fentanyl a permanent Schedule I substance
In a push back against the spread of fentanyl overdoses throughout the United States, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) wrote to National Drug Control Policy director Rahul Gupta last week, asking for support on legislation to permanently classify the substance. The... Read More »
Bill targets southern border immigration contingency plan
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has joined nine colleagues in introducing a bill they said prohibits President Joe Biden from lifting Title 42 immigration restrictions without a migrant surge contingency plan. The Public Health and Border Security Act of H.R. 7458) seeks to have a plan in place from... Read More »
Rep. Schneider praises Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act committee navigation
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) is commending the Judiciary Committee for advancing the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA) after markup, noting the measure secures resources needed to tackle radicalism. “Domestic extremism has been on the rise across the United States for years, yet the... Read More »