Policy
Legislation would protect service members’ data from being sold
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would prevent data brokers from non-adversarial nations from purchasing U.S. service members’ data and then selling it to adversarial nations such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. The Protecting Military Servicemembers Data... Read More »
Congressional committees unveil legislation seeking to invest $150B to modernize American military
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, unveiled legislation that would invest $150 billion to modernize the American military. The legislation was developed in conjunction with the Senate Armed Services Committee to prioritize defense spending on... Read More »
Accused terrorists pleads guilty to firearms charges
An Afghan national charged in connection with a planned Election Day attack inspired by ISIS recently plead guilty. Abdullah Haji Zada plead guilty to knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition with the intent to commit a federal crime of... Read More »
State attorneys general urge next National Human Trafficking Hotline operator to cooperate with local law enforcement
A bipartisan coalition of 40 state and territory attorneys general recently sent a letter Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. urging the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline to better cooperate with local law enforcement. Polaris, a... Read More »
DOJ charges 27 Tren De Aragua members with racketeering, other offenses
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it had charged nearly 30 alleged Tren De Aragua (TdA) gang members with racketeering, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery and firearms offenses. In two superseding indictments, the DOJ said those charged were either alleged members of TdA, or... Read More »
Legislation would address transnational repression
The House Homeland Security Committee recently advanced legislation that addresses transnational repression. The Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Accountability Act would instructs the Department of Homeland Security to create a public service announcement campaign to... Read More »
Legislation aims to crack down on drone surveillance
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced legislation that will make drone surveillance of national defense sites illegal. The Drone Espionage Act will update the Espionage Act of 1917 and make videography of sensitive national defense sites a crime punishable with a fine, 10 years in prison or... Read More »
DHS celebrates milestone in child exploitation protection
Over the course of an online child exploitation public awareness campaign, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it has coordinated an effort to address the problem. The Know2Protect campaign, housed within the DHS Cyber Crimes Center, has reached millions through traditional and... Read More »
Plan will modernize U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Long Island
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) recently entered into a 10-year agreement to revitalize and modernize the USMMA campus in Kings Point, N.Y. The USMMA academy on Long Island is one of five federal service academies. The... Read More »
WHO member states make progress on pandemic agreement
Member states of the World Health Organization recently forged a draft agreement to help make the world safer from pandemics. The proposal, which will be considered at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May, aims to strengthen global collaboration on prevention, preparedness and response to... Read More »
Panamanian doctor charged in VA fraud scheme
The U.S. Department of Justice said a Panamanian doctor has pleaded guilty to a widespread fraud scheme involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Officials said Dr. Rolando Chin, a surgeon in Panama, was one of several people involved in submitting false and inflated claims to the... Read More »
ICE operation apprehends 133 illegal aliens in New York
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted criminal illegal alien offenders and other immigration violators in western, central, and northern New York and apprehended 133 illegal aliens between March 24 and March 28. During the operation, four criminal search warrants were served... Read More »
TSA begins enforcement of REAL ID on May 7
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin enforcement of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide on May 7. On that date, the TSA will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant from airline passengers 18 years and older.... Read More »
Program to protect sensitive data from foreign adversaries implemented by DOJ
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on April 11 it has taken steps to move forward with a program to prevent China, Russia, Iran and other foreign adversaries from accessing and exploiting American citizens’ personal data. The Data Security Program implemented by the National Security... Read More »
NY Gov. Hochul warns federal cuts could impact infrastructure projects across New York
A number of projects across the state of New York will lose funding as a result of the Trump administration’s cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities program, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. As part of the cuts to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than... Read More »
U.S. Senate bill aims to help prevent attacks on law enforcement
Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate would help protect law enforcement from ambush-style attacks. Law enforcement agencies reported more than 79,000 police officers were assaulted in 2023, and 60 were killed. The Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness... Read More »
Bill to address transnational repression passes out of committee
A bill focusing on coercive tactics used by repressive foreign governments to silence political dissention has passed out of the House Homeland Security Committee, U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) said. The Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act, introduced... Read More »
Legislation introduced to combat Chinese-backed cyberattacks
U.S. Reps. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Mark Green, MD (R-TN) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) reintroduced legislation that would help combat Chinese-backed cyberattacks. The legislation, Strengthening Cyber resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act, would require the federal government to assess and... Read More »
Senators voice concern over NSA firings
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE) are voicing their concerns over the recent firing of the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and the reassignment of the agency’s deputy director. In a letter to President Donald Trump, the senators led their... Read More »
Legislation introduced to reauthorize Project Safe Neighborhoods program
A group of Republican Senators introduced legislation that would reauthorize a national program allowing law enforcement to use evidence-based, data-driven approaches to reducing violent crime. U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Thom... Read More »
Legislation would continue Department of Defense 1033 Program
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would protect the Department of Defense 1033 Program. The Lifesaving Gear for Police Act would allow the program to continue to transfer equipment to local law enforcement. U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Pete Stauber (R-MN)... Read More »
Legislation would restore FEMA as independent agency
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would restore the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent cabinet-level agency. The FEMA Independence Act would remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agency then would report directly to... Read More »
ICE, USCIS investigation leads to arrest of 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in an investigation that led to the apprehension of 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts. The agencies said that during a six-day enhanced operation in March, federal law enforcement partners and... Read More »
March southwest border crossings lowest on record
Crossings over the southwest border reached a record low in March, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Approximately 7,180 southwest border crossings were recorded in March and there were approximately 230 southwest border apprehensions daily. The monthly average for... Read More »
Legislation exempting taxes on military bonuses introduced
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) introduced legislation that would exempt from taxation all bonuses paid to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The No Tax on Military Bonuses Act, would exempt all taxes on the enlistment, reenlistment, retention or other incentive bonuses. Currently, service members... Read More »
Legislation to extend concealed carry privileges to law enforcement officers reintroduced
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) said their legislation extending concealed carry privileges to law enforcement officers would improve public safety and offer real solutions to terrorism and mass shootings. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA) would extend... Read More »
Coast Guard increases presence near Mexico border
The Coast Guard recently increased its operational presence near the border between the United States and Mexico with the goal of enhancing border security and immigration enforcement. Coast Guard District Eleven has increased its counter-illicit-maritime-activities since Jan. 21, tripled its... Read More »
Hoeven meets with Air Force General to keep Minot Air Force Base modernization on track
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven met with Gen. Thomas Bussiere to ensure the modernization efforts at Minot Air Force Base stay on track. Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, is working with Hoeven to ensure the base has the facilities necessary to house and operate new weapons... Read More »
Congressmembers applaud contract modification for Polar Security Cutter program
Congressmembers in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee applauded the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision to award a contract modification to Bollinger Mississippi Shipyards for the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program. U.S. Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Mike Ezell (R-MS) said the... Read More »
Legislation reintroduced to use AI to prep for, respond to pandemics
Legislation re-introduced into Congress this week would direct the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to create a program leveraging artificial intelligence to prepare for and respond to pandemics. Sponsored by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM),... Read More »
Next round of payments through United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund scheduled
The U.S. Department of Justice will be authorizing at least $2 billion in payments for all eligible United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund claims by Jan. 1, 2026. This will be the sixth round of payments, and potential new claimants can submit applications through June 1. The... Read More »
Congress members seek answers on monitoring, countering drones
A group of five Republican Congress members recently sent a letter to Pete Hegseth, Department of Defense secretary; Kristi Noem, Department of Homeland Security secretary; and Chris Rocheleau, Federal Aviation Administration acting administrator; to question how the agencies are monitoring and... Read More »
Legislation to prohibit U.S. investments from fueling Chinese aggression introduced
Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr would prevent U.S. capital from financing the Chinese Communist Party, officials said. The legislation, the Foreign Investment Guardrails to Help Thwart (FIGHT) China Act, would establish a comprehensive outbound investment screening regime to... Read More »
Legislation would exclude certain service members from federal taxes
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would ensure that U.S. service members stationed in certain high-risk areas receive critical tax exclusion benefits. The bill would extend the Qualified Hazardous Duty Area (QHDA) designation to Chad, Burkina Faso,... Read More »