U.S. Policy
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
In its freshly released 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that a high risk of foreign and domestic terrorism remains largely unchanged, alongside predatory economic practices and misinformation campaigns.
“Sharing information with... Read More »
The Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act (H.R. 3389) passed the last of its hurdles in the House this week, advancing out of the chamber on a bipartisan vote and raising the potential that firefighters may soon gain increased assets for wildfire emergencies.
Originally introduced by U.S.... Read More »
A first-of-its-kind-facility in the United States – the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) – received a best project award from Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest this week.
That award, centered... Read More »
Worried about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt cyber infrastructure and compromise critical data, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) recently wrote to Acting National Cyber Director (ONCD) Kemba Walden seeking information and action.
Foremost,... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Fugitive Safe Reauthorization Act last week to renew the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, which allows U.S. Marshals to work with local faith organizations and get those with warrants to turn themselves into law enforcement.... Read More »
A recent guilty plea in U.S. court from Suez Rajan Limited marked the criminal resolution of a case that involved millions of dollars, more than 980,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
It marked the first time a company was accused of and... Read More »
Charges against Russian nationals in three federal jurisdictions were unsealed last week, revealing indictments for cybercrimes committed through Trickbot malware and Conti ransomware in recent years.
“The Justice Department has taken action against individuals we allege developed and deployed... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) failed to properly resolve and monitor issues at International Mail Facilities (IMF), leading to wasted dollars and risks to both officers and its larger mission, according to a newly released report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
CBP... Read More »
Through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded 34 grants amounting to $20 million this week, providing significant financial aid to local communities’ security.
“As the recent racially-motivated shooting in... Read More »
Concerned about a growing backlog for passport processing at the U.S. State Department and bad actors smelling opportunity for fraud, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and U.S. Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) this week urged action.
In a letter to the department, they... Read More »
A group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter this week to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler criticizing the agency’s new cybersecurity rules for public companies.
The rule, which took effect Sept. 5, requires publicly traded companies to notify the SEC of a... Read More »
