Policy
Justice Department makes recommendations to counteract law enforcement recruitment, retention woes
Following meetings with more than 35 law enforcement and community leaders nationwide, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) this week released recommendations to reverse challenges facing recruitment and retention at law enforcement agencies nationwide. The causes are many. In its... Read More »
DoD funds help create four new research centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions
Continuing the Biden administration’s emphasis on equitability, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that investments of $40 million this week would help create four research centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions of higher education. For recipients selected through... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Kelly, Zinke call for locking down U.S. northern border for fear of suspected terrorists
Calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a group of representatives led by U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) introduced a resolution this week to recognize an outsized number of suspected terrorists recently seized at the northern border. This year, Customs and... Read More »
Bipartisan Senate effort seeks to freeze $6B in Iranian assets
In a bipartisan showing last week, more than a dozen U.S. senators called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to officially freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets following Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. While Hamas rules over the Gaza Strip, it is long had a close relationship with... Read More »
Justice Department doles out nearly $75M for various law enforcement efforts
For a mix of active shooter training, efforts to counter illegal drug trafficking and law enforcement mental health and wellness training, the U.S. Justice Department Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded nearly $75 million to agencies nationwide last week. While the... Read More »
FEMA opens nearly $2B of available federal funding for community climate resilience
FEMA opened $1.8 billion in funding to two grant programs this week as part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America Agenda, dangling assistance for communities facing down climate change and the extreme weather it has brought. Climate resilience is the name of the game, and both the... Read More »
Final report of U.S. Strategic Posture Commission pushes urgent build up to deter China, Russia simultaneously
A comprehensive report from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States found that, on examination, the long-term strategic posture of the United States is flagging amid worsening global security, and pointed to looming threats from China and Russia alike. The... Read More »
GAO: Crew shortfalls remain problem to Navy readiness
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Navy has taken steps to address fatigue in its ranks – an ongoing problem that has plagued its ranks for years, even contributing to fatal ship collisions. Essentially, this was a follow-up to an analysis conducted in 2021,... Read More »
Bipartisan Operation Swords of Iron bill proposed to appropriate $2B for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system
Although the House remains paralyzed in the face of a Republican rift that has left the Speaker position empty, four representatives crossed the aisle this week to introduce the “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act to buoy Israeli defenses. The bill followed... Read More »
New York increases security measures for Jewish community in wake of Israel-Palestine War
Following the weekend’s surprise attack on Israel that kicked off a brutal war of reprisals between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced new steps to provide security for the state’s Jewish community. Fearing the spread of violence to Jewish... Read More »
U.S. to help support Israel in defense against Hamas attacks
Following weekend attacks by Hamas that caught Israel off guard and launched a declaration of war, the United States reiterated its support for its traditional Middle East ally, as fears of escalation grew. While Israel now claims its border with Gaza to be secure – three days after a Hamas... Read More »
World governments advance amendments to International Health Regulations
With more than 300 proposed amendments in hand, the Working Group of Amendments to the IHR undertook a fifth round of discussions over International Health Regulations 2005 last week, setting up a path to a consolidated proposal and further discussions. Proposed amendments considered by the... Read More »
New York pharmacy owner pleads guilty in $25M healthcare bribery scheme
Detailing a system of kickbacks and bribes, the part owner of New York’s 888 pharmacy Inc. and Huikang Pharmacy Inc. – Dacheng Lu – pled guilty last week in conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by more than $25 million. Lu pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud – a... Read More »
Senators propose greater oversight of U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreements
In a bill that would revise the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and fellow Republicans last week introduced legislation to increase oversight of U.S.-China science and technology agreements (STAs). Daines joined 12 other Republicans in introducing... Read More »
Foreign Relations Committee Republicans call on State Department to better combat growing Chinese military footprint
Warning of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plan to develop overseas naval facilities and logistical hubs to fuel potential future operations, Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week urged the State Department to turn up the pressure. U.S. Sens. Todd Young (IN), Pete... Read More »
Biden administration indicts Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and employees for fentanyl trafficking
With the announcement of multiple indictments against China-based companies and Chinese employees this week, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a new efforts in an ongoing fight against fentanyl production and trafficking. “The international dimension... Read More »
TSA expects to break firearm seizure record at airports this year
In the first three quarters of 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported 5,072 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints, putting it on track to break its own record of seizures by the end of the year. With more than 1,800 firearms stopped this quarter alone,... Read More »
U.S. DOT awards more than $30M to hazardous materials response efforts
Through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last week announced an award of more than $30 million for first responders and the bolstering of local responses to hazardous materials incidents. In all, six grants split up... Read More »
DoD labels China, Russia as greatest international threats in 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released an unclassified version of its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) last week, laying out the foundations of its approach going forward, with a likely heavy approach on China and Russia. The previous CWMD strategy, released... Read More »
FBI’s summer anti-violent crime efforts led to more than 4,000 arrests, 50 organizations shuttered
During this summer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led a nationwide effort to combat violent crime, and as of this week, the results have been released: more than 4,000 arrests, 2,500 drug and 1,600 weapons seizures, and the takedown of more than 50 organizations. The campaign ran... Read More »
Pay Our Military Act pledges military pay regardless of government shutdown
U.S. Senate Republicans led by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced legislation that seeks to make sure military service members still get paid in the event of a government shutdown. The Pay Our Military Act of 2023, S.2835, would guarantee that all American military branches – Army,... Read More »
Safe Response Act pledges training for first responders to prevent overdoses
U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would provide investments for a grant program meant to help train and provide resources to first responders working to prevent overdose deaths. The Safe Response Act, S.... Read More »
Department of Defense awards $30M in grants to six Defense Manufacturing Communities
As part of the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week awarded approximately $30 million to six organizations, following competitive applications. "Delivering capabilities to our warfighters at scale depends on a resilient and... Read More »
Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act introduced to guarantee Secret Service gets paid fairly
U.S. Reps. Mark Green (R-TN) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) recently introduced the Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2023, new legislation that would extend the overtime pay authority for U.S. Secret Service agents. “For the brave men and women of the Secret Service, protecting our... Read More »
Biden administration adds national security protections to CHIPS incentives program
Through elaboration of certain provisions, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed guardrails on the CHIPS and Science act last week, barring associated funds from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in or jointly researching with foreign countries of concern. “One of the Biden-Harris... Read More »
Legislation demanding Chinese sanctions advances beyond House committee
A measure to demand sanctions on and prohibit nearly all economic interactions with blacklisted Chinese entities so targeted – the Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2023 (H.R. 760) – advanced from the House Financial Services Committee last week. Authored by U.S.... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation proposes establishing FEMA as cabinet-level federal agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could, as a whole, be up for a major promotion under the FEMA Independence Act of 2023 – a proposal to raise the agency to a cabinet-level position. According to its authors – U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) – the... Read More »
Marshals’ Operation North Star III yields arrests of more than 4,400 fugitives nationwide
After three months under Operation North Star III, the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests of 4,455 violent fugitives this week, following targeted efforts in 20 cities to execute warrants for homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and firearms violations. “ONS is an... Read More »
DHS gathers private experts for Homeland Intelligence Experts Group
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group this week, assembling experts from the private sector to advise on federal intelligence efforts. Former senior intelligence officials, journalists, and human rights advocates join the assembly,... Read More »
House Homeland Security Republicans probe DHS, DoD and FBI over reported Chinese attempts to access sensitive U.S. sites
In a letter to the heads of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DoD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the House chairs pressed for details of their responses to supposed Chinese attempts to breach U.S. military and other sensitive sites. The letter from House... Read More »
DHS proposes modernizing H-2 temporary visa program with more flexibility, worker protections
Reckoning with the essential nature of temporary visa-based workers to the United States economy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rulemaking this week that would update H-2 visa programs to strengthen worker protections and more. These efforts target two... Read More »
Secure the Border Act introduced to push border wall, make immigration standards more strict
As a companion to House-passed legislation H.R. 2, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) last week introduced the Secure the Border Act of 2023, proposing a resumption of border wall construction, harsher asylum and visa standards, and more Border Patrol agents. Known as S. 2824, the Senate version of the... Read More »
DHS promotes AI use as first Chief AI Officer appointed
In a national first, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed a Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer last week and called for responsible use of AI by the department, based on several newly announced policies. “Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool we must... Read More »
Center for Naval Analyses to conduct study for new U.S. maritime strategy
The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) last week chose the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) to handle a study that would inform a new national maritime strategy for the industry at large and revitalize the U.S. merchant marine. CNA is an independent, nonprofit Federally Funded... Read More »