News
Congressmembers reintroduce legislation targeting wasteful Pentagon spending
On Monday, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IO) reintroduced legislation that would streamline Pentagon spending. The Streamline Pentagon Spending Act, would repeal statutory requirements to provide unfunded priorities lists, reduce... Read More »
Legislation seeks to reform FEMA’s Individual Assistance program
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently advanced bipartisan legislation that would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program. The Disaster Survivors Fairness Act would improve how FEMA provides assistance to... Read More »
More than 3,400 arrested as part of Operation North Star
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) had arrested more than 3,400 violent fugitives as part of its Operation North Star FY 2024 (ONS FY24). Operation North Star is a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative. The recent sweep resulted in the... Read More »
Legislation leveraging AI to handle pandemic preparedness introduced
On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced legislation that would use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to handle pandemic preparedness and response. The co-chairs of the Senate AI Caucus said the legislation would establish a program called MedShield and would... Read More »
Legislation would combat Chinese cyber threats
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would combat growing cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against critical infrastructure. The Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act would create an interagency task force tasked... Read More »
Congressmen request briefing with FBI, SEC on Chinese company
Republicans on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Subcommittee are requesting a joint briefing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Chinese Communist Party member-linked Temu and its parent company, Pinduoduo... Read More »
House passes legislation to bolster wildfire tech
On Thursday, the U.S. House passed legislation designed to combat wildfires across the country. The Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) would allow private entities to partner with... Read More »
Legislation would increase cyber training access
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would increase the accessibility of cyber training and education. “I am proud to introduce legislation to ensure all levels of government have the best and brightest cyber professionals on the frontlines of America’s cyber... Read More »
HHS boosts Mpox global vaccine supply through donations
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would donate more than a million doses of the mpox vaccine, boosting both domestic and international supply. The JYNNEOS mpox vaccine received regulatory approval from the World Health Organization last week.... Read More »
DHS opens application period for cybersecurity grants
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced the availability of $279.9 million in State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program grant funding for fiscal year 2024. The program funds projects that help reduce cyber risk and build resilience against evolving cybersecurity threats by... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation accelerating microchip manufacturing projects passes House
On Monday, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and his Senate colleagues applauded the passage of legislation designed to accelerate the U.S. microchip manufacturing permitting process in the House of Representatives. The Building Chips in America Act would streamline federal permitting process for... Read More »
Senate committee passes terrorist watchlist reform legislation
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed legislation that would provide some reforms to the terrorism watchlist and traveler screening processes. The legislation, the Enhanced Oversight and Accountability in Screening Act, introduced by U.S.... Read More »
United States, UK, Canada partner for technology research and development
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the Canadian Department of National Defence have partnered to collaboratively research, development, test, and evaluate artificial intelligence (AI), cyber technologies, resilient systems, and information... Read More »
DHS S&T delivers wildfire sensors to Colorado
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) celebrated National Preparedness Month by announcing the delivery and phased implementation of wildland fire sensors throughout Colorado. S&T said 20 wildfire detection and four wind sensors are... Read More »
Legislation would reduce reliance on China for critical minerals
The U.S. Senate recently passed bipartisan legislation that would reduce U.S. reliance on foreign nations for critical minerals. The bipartisan Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act would establish a presidential task force tasked with determining how to address national... Read More »
DOJ awards $600M in grants to hire more law enforcement officers
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Offices) announced it had awarded more than $600 million in grants to law enforcement agencies across the country. The funding will be used for a variety of efforts, from hiring new law... Read More »
Organizations awarded $18M in violence, terrorism prevention grants
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently awarded 35 grants under the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program, totaling $18 million. The program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants to pilot innovative violence and terrorism prevention approaches, to... Read More »
Legislation introduced to recruit, retain firefighters
U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Mike Carey (R-OH) announced they had introduced bipartisan legislation to recruit and retain firefighters across the country. The Enhancing SAFER Grants for Local Firefighters Act would enhance existing federal grant programs used by local fire departments,... Read More »
California early warning system notified millions ahead of 4.7 magnitude earthquake
On Friday, an earthquake early warning system worked, officials said, notifying millions of Californians of a 4.7 magnitude earthquake up to 20 seconds before the shaking started. Officials said that at 7:28 a.m. on Sept. 13, an earthquake centered 4.4 miles north of Malibu was felt across... Read More »
Report finds port security threat in Chinese tech, equipment
On Friday, a joint investigation found a rising threat to U.S. economic and homeland security in the Chinese Communist Party’s dominance in U.S. port infrastructure. According to a report from House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Subcommittee on... Read More »
TSA proposes REAL ID enforcement flexibilities
On Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposed new rules that would provide federal agencies with the flexibility to enforce REAL ID regulations. The proposed rule would ensure that federal agencies, including TSA, can enforce REAL ID requirements starting May 7, 2025.... Read More »
Legislation introduced to increase communications from FEMA to states, localities receiving counter-terrorism grants
On Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) introduced legislation designed to improve communication from FEMA to states and localities receiving counter-terrorism grants. The bill, the “Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act,”... Read More »
House passes legislation countering Chinese influence on higher education
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, MD (R-TN) applauded the House’s passage of legislation that seeks to counter the influence of China on American higher education. Green, the chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said U.S. Rep. August Pfluger’s (R-TX) bill, “DHS Restrictions... Read More »
Homeland Security Republicans applaud bills addressing national security, fentanyl activity
On Monday, Republicans on the House Committee on Homeland Security applauded the passage of three bills countering Chinese influence on homeland security and the fentanyl crisis out of committee. U.S. Rep. Mark Green, MD (R-TN) said the committee had advanced three bills out of committee that... Read More »
U.S. Secret Service partners with law enforcement on EBT fraud, card skimming outreach operation
On Thursday, the U.S. Secret Service announced it had joined forces with state and local law enforcement to conduct a payment card skimming and Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud operation in Birmingham, Ala. Secret Service personnel, as well as Birmingham Police Department officers, and members... Read More »
Treasury Department’s FinCEN holds events to combat fentanyl financing
On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) held its latest event focused on addressing financial crimes threats stemming from the fentanyl trade. Part of the Promoting Regional Outreach to Educate Communities to the Threat of Fentanyl (PROTECT)... Read More »
Cleveland-Cliffs backs Biden’s reported decision to block Nippon takeover of US Steel
Cleveland-Cliffs said on Thursday it supports President Joe Biden’s reported decision to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel and expressed interest in making another bid for U.S. Steel’s assets. The company said the takeover deal would jeopardize national security. “The... Read More »
DHS seeking information to boost port cybersecurity
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a Request for Information from commercial port operators to help research maritime cybersecurity. The Directorate’s Maritime Port Resiliency and Security Research Testbed project is... Read More »
KBR acquires LinQuest to expand digital, national security, intelligence capabilities
Science, technology and engineering solutions provider KBR announced Tuesday it had acquired LinQuest Corporation. The acquisition will allow KBR to strengthen its capabilities across space, air dominance and connected battlespace missions, the company said. LinQuest, a provider of advanced... Read More »
DHS strengthens Maritime cybersecurity through partnership with Japan
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it had strengthened maritime cybersecurity through a partnership with its counterpart in Japan. From Aug. 21-22, DHS and the Government of Japan conducted a tabletop exercise that simulated a major cyber incident impacting... Read More »
Army awards Javelin contract to Raytheon, Lockheed Martin
On Thursday, the U.S. Army announced it had awarded the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) contract to Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The $1.3 billion contract is the largest single-year Javelin production contract covers Javelin missiles and associated equipment and services. The joint venture contract... Read More »
Rep. Moolenaar, Sen. Rubio ask DoD to blacklist China-linked battery company
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) asked the U.S. Department of Defense to immediately place CATL on the list of companies operating in the United States that have ties to the Chinese Communist Party’s Military-Civilian Fusion Strategy. In a letter to U.S.... Read More »
US DoD announces cooperative agreement on STEM education, outreach programs
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it had awarded Research Triangle Institute a $190 million agreement to provide STEM education and outreach to communities across the country. The award, the Defense Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Consortium (DSEC)... Read More »
DOD convenes climate summit to strengthen regional security collaboration
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense hosted the Climate and Defense Summit of the Americas to gather senior leaders in the Western Hemisphere to address defense and security challenges posed by climate change. Officials said the summit, held at the U.S. Naval Academy on Aug. 22 and 23,... Read More »