U.S. Policy
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to introduce its System of Systems Operational Analytics (SoSOA) program, which aims to improve analytical capabilities for decision-making across the Homeland Security Enterprise.
S&T is currently... Read More »
The 526th Intelligence Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, recently hosted an Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking seminar at AFWERX Vegas, which more than 100 Airmen, contractors, and Department of Defense employees attended.
AFWERX Vegas, a branch of DEFENSEWERX, is a... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate on Thursday would require President Trump to draft a national strategy to identify and disrupt global financial networks used by transnational criminal organizations to transfer an estimated $870 billion around the world.
Under the Criminal... Read More »
Noting that only an estimated 25 percent of drug shipments coming into the United States by sea are intercepted, U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) called on the Navy and Coast Guard to better coordinate interdiction efforts during a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday.
King... Read More »
The National Security Agency (NSA) recently hosted researchers from “lablets” taking part in its Science of Security and Privacy (SoS) initiative, which advances the design of trusted systems across disciplines ranging from computer science to behavioral science.
Since its launch in 2012,... Read More »
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced Tuesday a major enforcement action targeting for arrest approximately 100 defendants recently indicted by a federal grand jury in Huntington, West Virginia for drug-related charges, including involvement in the Peterson Drug Trafficking Organization... Read More »
U.S. agencies need a more predictable and accessible source of funds to support a rapid response to public health emergencies, including outbreaks of disease and bioterror attacks, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) said Wednesday.
Cole addressed a panel of government officials testifying at a House... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said information sharing has proven beneficial to coastal surveillance initiatives.
Officials said the Integrated Maritime Domain Enterprise - Coastal Surveillance System (IMDE-CSS) has evolved beyond the... Read More »
The U.S. military would take steps to secure access to the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) needed to use many communication and navigational devices and to ward off enemy attempts at jamming or deception, under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The U.S.... Read More »
Sentencing guidelines would be strengthened for new crimes committed by undocumented immigrants who were previously convicted of unlawful entry to the country under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Peter, Ellie and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry... Read More »
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the Department of Defense (DOD) has made progress in complying with provisions for managing its defense business systems but still needs to take additional actions.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced Monday legislation to update the authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) against non-state terrorist groups abroad.
The bill, cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE, Todd Young (R-IN), and Bill Nelson... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the first major overhaul of its Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity on Monday, which reflects feedback collected over the last two years.
Also known as the... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense would be directed to draft a plan outlining specific steps to enhance U.S. military biodefense readiness, response, and research under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 12 in response to evolving threats around the world.
Introduced... Read More »
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on the Trump Administration to take action to stop a “Syria-North Korea sanctions evasion scheme and North Korean efforts to advance Syria’s chemical weapons technology.”
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), David Perdue (R-GA), Cory Gardner... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently released its 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development (R&D) Program Guide, which introduces the program’s technology projects, goals, and objectives.
The Mobile Security R&D Program aims to address... Read More »
In a new nationwide survey released by the Alliance for Biosecurity on Monday, 73 percent of the 1,612 Americans polled said they would support a congressional decision to increase funding to address biosecurity needs and capabilities.
The survey comes as Congress faces a looming Sept. 30... Read More »
The Trump Administration’s decision to target Syrian chemical weapons facilities on Friday has been applauded by Republican lawmakers as a key step in upholding prohibitions on chemical weapons and has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers as “reckless” and potentially illegal.
U.S.... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently added to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Rafael Caro-Quintero, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar aka “Kiki.”
Caro-Quintero... Read More »
A bipartisan group of 41 senators called for at least $225.5 million in funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program in the fiscal year 2019 federal budget on Wednesday.
Hiring grants administered through the COPS program can be used by state, local and tribal law... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation on Tuesday that would help financial institutions and law enforcers identify human traffickers using the financial system.
The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act, H.R. 2219, would add the secretary of the treasury to the President's... Read More »
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the Republic of Chad has raised its security standards to meet baseline U.S. national security requirements and that the United States would remove travel restrictions placed on the country, effective April 13.
As a result of the removal, Chad... Read More »
Gen. Stephen Wilson, vice chief of staff of the Air Force, spoke this week at the 2018 Future of War Conference in Washington, D.C., where he emphasized the importance of speed, connectivity, and innovation for future war.
Wilson said that the Air Force must be able to quickly collect and... Read More »
As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about the company’s policies related to user data, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a privacy bill of rights to protect the personal information of America’s online consumers.
U.S. Sens. Edward Markey... Read More »
Officials said construction for a border wall replacement in Santa Teresa with new bollard style wall is underway.
The existing barrier will be replaced with an 18- to 30-foot high bollard-style wall, officials noted, referencing the contract, which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded to... Read More »
Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Homeland Security called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday to abandon plans to include social media scraping in an “extreme vetting” initiative for visa applicants.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the... Read More »
The F-35B Lightning II aircraft recently arrived at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on MacDill Air Force Base in Florida for a two-day visit to inform CENTCOM leadership about the capabilities and limitations of the F-35B platform.
The aircraft is fully operational and ready for combat. It will... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) seized control of Backpage.com and indicted seven individuals on Friday amid allegations that the online classifieds website has facilitated human sex trafficking for years.
After leading a two-year investigation into Backpage.com, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman... Read More »
A suspected chemical weapons attack by the Asaad regime last week has been condemned by U.S. President Donald Trump, who also called out Russia and Iran for backing Asaad.
“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless chemical attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and... Read More »
Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) recently introduced a bill designed to strengthen civil defense preparedness in Hawaii and across the country.
Gabbard and Hanabusa said the Civil Defense Preparedness Act of 2018 would expand existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Rhode Island will receive $3 million in support from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to update elections equipment, reinforce cybersecurity measures and enhance overall election security, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) announced on Friday
The funds are part of the $380 million in... Read More »
Following a recent visit to Ukraine, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on Wednesday for continued U.S. support after witnessing Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine first-hand.
Portman, the co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, visited Ukrainian military positions and was briefed by... Read More »
In response to reports that foreign actors may have placed surveillance equipment around Washington, D.C., that mimics cellular towers, Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on Wednesday.
The cell-site... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said its flagship Trusted Traveler Program, Global Entry, has eclipsed the five million member milestone.
CBP personnel said Global Entry provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.
As of... Read More »
Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee formally called for a congressional review of election security on Wednesday for the third time since January.
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the committee, U.S. Reps. Eddie Bernice... Read More »
