Policy
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense considers cyberbiosecurity threats
There’s a new word on the street that packs a lot of punch: cyberbiosecurity, which is introducing a host of new multilayered threats to biodefense. Members of the newly named Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense — formerly the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense — last week sought a... Read More »
Esper encourages military adaptability
During an address at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber conference, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper encouraged military adaptability against potential space threats and cyberattacks. Esper also said the emergence of Russia and China also expedites the need for adaptable... Read More »
Federal funding earmarked for election security
In anticipation of the 2020 elections, federal lawmakers have approved $250 million in support of state and local governments’ efforts to strengthen election security. The Senate Appropriations Committee recently granted approval to the allotment via an amendment to the Financial Services and... Read More »
Western Maryland receives $5.6M grant for first responders
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded Western Maryland more than $5.6 million through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The bulk of the funding, $5.5 million, was awarded to Frederick County while... Read More »
DEA sets strategy to combat drug, opioid addiction in Southern Massachusetts
The U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement (DEA) is initiating an effort to combat the drug abuse epidemic in the South Coast region of Massachusetts. The DEA is initiating a “360 Strategy” in that region – which is a comprehensive diversion control, law enforcement, and prevention program to... Read More »
Senate bill would prohibit buying drones from countries deemed national security threats
Legislation that would prohibit the U.S. government from procuring drones manufactured by covered foreign entities identified as national security threats was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The American Security Drone Act of 2019 was introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick... Read More »
HHS Secretary meets with Ugandan President to discuss Ebola response efforts
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar met with the Republic of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni this week to discuss a multilateral response to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The United States has long had a partnership with Uganda on... Read More »
Measure targets extreme weather preparedness
Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Daniel Webster (R-FL) introduced legislation Tuesday designed to enhance extreme weather events preparedness by establishing best practices to protect communities while saving taxpayer money. The PREPARE Act would create an interagency council to provide... Read More »
DHS seeks connection with Maryland small businesses
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program operators are seeking to meet with Maryland-area small businesses to help address homeland security challenges. Entities in the research and development domain are encouraged to attend Friday’s session,... Read More »
Sen. Warner seeks information from CBP following cyberattack of traveler data
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) inquired about the information security practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection contractors following a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of thousands of facial images of U.S. travelers. The June attack led to the theft of at least 100,000 traveler ID... Read More »
Corpus Christi CBP supports Hurricane Dorian response efforts
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at the Air and Marine Operations (AMO), National Air Security Operations Center Corpus Christi (NASOC-CC) recently aided Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas. From Aug. 29 to Sept. 8, NASOC-CC’s aircrews deployed to Birmingham, Ala., and... Read More »
HHS Secretary Azar tours Ebola treatment facility in DRC
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar led a contingent of U.S. officials on a tour last week of an Ebola treatment center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The delegation, which toured a facility in Butembo, DRC, observed the detection, infection prevention, and... Read More »
Roundtable session discusses Nevada tech education programs and cybersecurity threats
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently spearheaded a gathering of Nevada education personnel and tech companies to assess cybersecurity threats and legislation to address such circumstances. “The security of our nation’s cyber infrastructure is put at serious risk without a robust, skilled... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster nuclear warhead arsenal
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) recently secured strong funding in the 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations bill to extend and refurbish nuclear warheads bolstering the nation’s defense. “Given the security challenges around the globe, it’s vital we invest in our nuclear warheads and nuclear... Read More »
European Commission, WHO co-host Global Vaccination Summit to highlight vaccine benefits
Faced with the rise of anti-vaccination movements in the developed world, the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted the first Global Vaccination Summit last week, to counter those movements and promote action against vaccine-preventable diseases. The European... Read More »
Air Force unveils artificial intelligence strategy
Air Force officials said the recent release of the branch’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy emphasizes the importance of artificial intelligence capabilities to 21st-century missions. “The Air Force is charged to provide the nation with Air and Space Superiority, Global Strike, Rapid Global... Read More »
CBP, DHS program bolsters opioid detection
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel have partnered with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate as a means of bolstering illegal opioid detection methods. Synthetic Opioid Detection at Speed (SODAS) began after a report by the President’s... Read More »
David Glawe addresses global counter-terrorism session
Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and Chief Intelligence Officer David J. Glawe recently addressed the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism's (ICT’s) 2019 World Summit on Counter-Terrorism in Israel. Organizers said the gathering serves as one of the world’s most... Read More »
Senate Appropriations Committee approves funding bill for Defense Department
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2020 funding bill for the Department of Defense by a narrow 16-15 margin. The $694.9 billion funding bill includes an increase of $20.5 billion above FY2019. The recommendation consists of $622.5 billion in base funding, $70.7 billion for... Read More »
Government officials at all levels form Human Trafficking Council in Mississippi
An assistant attorney general, U.S. attorneys, state department officials, and local legislators have joined together to form a new Human Trafficking Council in Mississippi, to enhance prevention, protection and prosecution efforts in the state. The council will have authority throughout the... Read More »
Tersigni appointed to SOSi leadership team
Christopher T. Tersigni has been hired to serve as SOS International LLC (SOSi) federal law enforcement account executive. Tersigni, a retired special agent, Senior Executive Service (SES) member and 28-year veteran of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), last served the DEA as the... Read More »
CBP enforcement report shows recent decline
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency’s recently released enforcement actions report reflects a decline in the last 90 days while activity levels remain high. The analysis showed this year through August, the total number of people apprehended or found to be... Read More »
Senate advances legislation to improve TSA PreCheck program
The U.S. Senate recently advanced a bill that seeks to make air travel more convenient for transportation industry workers. The TSA Credential and Endorsement Harmonization Act of 2019 is designed to reduce the number of duplicate screenings by expanding TSA PreCheck to those who have already... Read More »
Protecting chemical facilities from terrorist attacks addressed at House committee hearing
A U.S. House committee hearing on Wednesday focused on how to strengthen a federal program that protects high-risk chemical facilities from terrorist attacks. “High-risk chemical facilities hold large stores of industrial chemicals that pose a safety and security risk to the American people... Read More »
Funds earmarked for substance abuse prevention
Kentucky’s Boyd County has been chosen for inclusion in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the HIDTA program provides law enforcement agencies in designated counties with coordination, equipment, technology,... Read More »
Measure targets asylum fraud, border child trafficking
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced Tuesday legislation designed to address asylum fraud and protect children arriving at the border from human trafficking. The End Child Trafficking Now Act of 2019, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require a DNA test to... Read More »
CBP reports 22 percent decline in people apprehended at Southern border
The number of people apprehended or found to be inadmissible at the Southern U.S. border declined by 22 percent in August, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The number apprehended or turned away was 64,006 in August, down from 82,055 in July. The August totals mark a 56 percent... Read More »
Threat from domestic terrorists rising, experts testify
On the eve of the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, experts testified to U.S. Congress that while Islamic jihadists remain a threat to the security of the United States, so to do domestic terrorists in the form of white supremacists and other radical right-wing groups. During a House... Read More »
Air Force initiates Mobility Guardian exercise
The 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, are hosting Mobility Guardian 2019, the Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) premier exercise. “Unmatched rapid global mobility exists because of the ready and resilient Airmen who execute the mission day in... Read More »
Sen. Gardner lauds decision to launch Space Command in Colorado
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) is lauding the Department of Defense’s (DOD) recent decision to temporarily establish U.S. Space Command in Colorado, noting it harnesses the state’s existing military assets. Gardner, an advocate for the initiative, said the temporary establishment at Peterson Air... Read More »
USAID provides more than $21M in additional aid for Ebola fight in DRC
Ebola containment efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will now be bolstered by $21 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The funds are in response to a continually worsening condition in the country, where an... Read More »
ICE initiative yields human rights violation arrests
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said recent implementation of the agency’s National Fugitive Operations Program resulted in the arrest of 39 fugitives suspected of human rights violations. The effort, which was executed Aug. 27-29, involved the Human Rights Violators and... Read More »
New York State to award $10M to counties for emergency response services
New York State will provide $10 million in grant funding to strengthen local emergency response operations across the state. "New York remains steadfast in our commitment to providing our first responders with the tools they need to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies," Gov. Andrew... Read More »
Navy should provide independent cost estimate for missile frigate additions, GAO says
The U.S. Navy is working on adding 20 new guided missile frigates to its fleet, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended they provide Congress with an independent cost estimate before awarding any contracts. Currently, the cost is estimated at around $20 billion. GAO... Read More »