News
DEA warns e-commerce companies over sales of pill presses
With the danger posed by illicit fentanyl at the forefront of concerns for drug regulators, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently wrote to e-commerce companies collectively warning them about the legal dangers of selling pill presses. These presses, the agency alleged, have... Read More »
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star heads home after carving 38-mile channel in Antarctica
After breaking a 38-mile channel through fast ice and escorting vessels to and from Antarctrica’s McMurdo Station, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is headed back from the Antarctic Circle. The crew’s mission kept them below the circle for 51 days, as part of Operation Deep Freeze... Read More »
House leadership lauds Biden administration’s decision to invest in domestic crane manufacturing, security
In a joint statement, House chairmen and U.S. Reps. Mark Green, MD (R-NTN), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) praised the recent White House decision to invest in the domestic manufacturing of port cranes and maritime security. Although more often locking... Read More »
Senators raise concerns about proposed global pandemic accord for its weakening of IP protections
In a letter to United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a group of senators voiced concern over a proposed global accord by the World Health Organization (WHO) that seeks to aid pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. However, the lawmakers argued that it could also weaken... Read More »
Representatives seek data on underground smuggling tunnels in Subterranean Border Defense Act
U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced this week border security legislation that seeks to focus on countering underground smuggling tunnels. The Subterranean Border Defense Act (H.R.7404) would specifically push for annual reports to Congress on efforts made to counteract illicit cross-border... Read More »
United States, U.K. take down international LockBit ransomware group
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that, together with the United Kingdom, it had successfully disrupted the LockBit ransomware group, seizing its infrastructure and developing decryption capabilities for its software. The group has reportedly targeted more than 2,000... Read More »
House Armed Services and Quality of Life Panel leaders urge Biden to support service member quality of life in next budget
A letter dispatched to President Joe Biden this month by leaders of the House Armed Services and Quality of Life Panel urged him to back quality of life improvements for service members and their families in the White House’s FY 2025 Department of Defense (DoD) Budget request. Signatories... Read More »
TSA warns against rising risk of drones while holding new drone response training
As the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this month held its first drone response training outside the country since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, the administration warned of criminal, terrorist and more generic threats posed by unmanned aircraft. This case as the... Read More »
House Homeland Security committee, federal agencies hold classified briefing focused on TikTok
Security concerns regarding TikTok, which have passed in and out of Congress for years, surged back into focus again recently as the House Committee on Homeland Security gathered federal agencies for a classified briefing on the Chinese firm-owned app. In a meeting led by U.S. Rep. August... Read More »
Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act proposes border changes, appropriations for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
With the introduction of the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act recently, a bipartisan mix of representatives are pushing for year-long authorities to secure the United States-Mexico border and provide $66.32 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This latest attempt to both solve... Read More »
Sens. Duckworth, Blackburn press for improvements to emergency communication technology
Through introduction of the ITS Codification Act (S. 3781) earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sought to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and improve the nation’s emergency communication technology. “It’s critical that... Read More »
GRACE Act proposes expanding VA loan program to connect more military families with homes
The VA Home Loan Guaranty Resiliency and Concurrency Enhancement (GRACE) Act (H.R. 7388) was recently introduced to the House as a way to help military families buy homes at new duty stations, easing their transition periods during relocation. Affordable housing has grown increasingly difficult... Read More »
FirstNet Authority, AT&T agree to 10-year, $8B investment into public safety broadband network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and its network partner, AT&T, recently announced the next phase of its public safety broadband network, with 5G upgrades, coverage enhancements and service updates spurred by more than $8 billion of investments. Those investments will... Read More »
BAE Systems wins regulatory approval to acquire Ball Aerospace for $5.5B
BAE Systems recently received the regulatory approvals needed to purchase Ball Aerospace from Ball Corporation for $5.5 billion, shuffling a leading provider of spacecraft, payloads, and optical and antenna to new ownership. In recent years, we’ve said that we would seek out opportunities to... Read More »
Discussion draft of ONSHORE Manufacturing Act proposes incentives for domestic battlefield medicine, device manufacturing
U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released this week a discussion draft of a new bill known as the ONSHORE Manufacturing Act, which proposes incentives to encourage domestic manufacturing of critical battlefield medicines and devices. ONSHORE, which stands for the Our Nation’s Supply chain for... Read More »
TSA reports successful operations during Super Bowl LVIII weekend
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported successful safety operations during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nev., securing the routes in and out of Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and continuing their efforts once the game was over. At LAS, the TSA readied for a surge of... Read More »
Amended Afghan Adjustment Act would grant permanent residence pathway to Afghan refugees
Through a foreign aid supplemental package based on the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan collective of senators recently proposed creating a permanent residency path for those who supported the United States in Afghanistan and have since sought refuge after the Taliban return to... Read More »
Republican bill proposes death penalty or life sentences for killing police officers
Through the Fallen Law Enforcement Act introduced this week, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Cornyn (R-TX) seek to strengthen penalties for attacks on law enforcement across the board. The bill would require death penalties or life imprisonment imposed on anyone... Read More »
International effort results in cybercrime charges, seizure of internet domains used to sell malware
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with international law enforcement organizations, recently announced the seizure of internet domains used to sell malware and a pair of indictments lodged against individuals in Malta and Nigeria. Federal authorities in Boston seized four... Read More »
USCIS processed a record 10 million immigration cases in 2023, successfully cut backlog
For the first time in more than a decade, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) managed to reduce its backlog of immigration cases in 2023, pushing hard to complete an unprecedented 10 million cases over the course of the fiscal year. The agency faced down two record issues at the... Read More »
DARPA’s new REMA program rapidly progresses autonomous operations with commercial drones
Drone mission autonomy is the focus of a new DARPA program known as Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA), and in just 70 business days, it has made major headway. Focused on commercial drone technology, the program sought to allow these devices to autonomously continue predefined... Read More »
Armed Services Committee members urge President Biden to rethink plans for military’s communication airwaves
An upcoming plan by the Biden administration could see the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) give up communication airwaves typically reserved for military operations, but recently, three senators from the Armed Services Committee pushed back on those plans. The senators, who included U.S. Sens.... Read More »
DETECT Act seeks cybersecurity guidelines for federal usage of drones
With their recent introduction of the Drone Evaluation to Eliminate Cyber Threats Act of 2024 (DETECT Act), U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) seek to direct the development of cybersecurity guidelines for the federal government’s use of drones. “Drones and unmanned systems... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security, NFL collaborate on Super Bowl security
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., this week as part of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) review of operations underway for Super Bowl LVIII, in conjunction with local and state law enforcement and the National Football League (NFL). The... Read More »
Bill to improve federal building security advances to Senate floor
Overcoming its first hurdle, the Improving Federal Building Security Act (S.3613) passed out of committee this week, putting its ideas of timely improvements for federal buildings into consideration by the full Senate. Earlier, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) issued recommendations on... Read More »
DHS launches artificial intelligence expert hiring push to scrutinize use of AI
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to hire 50 artificial intelligence experts this year as part of a unique initiative meant to create a new team focused on ensuring responsible use of AI. Dubbed a hiring sprint, the effort will yield what the DHS is calling its AI Corps.... Read More »
Bill to streamline federal disaster support advances out of Senate committee
A legislative effort to repeal a section of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) and bring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in line with other agencies on disaster aid recently advanced unanimously through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental... Read More »
FBI arrests nearly 200 people in push against large-scale drug-trafficking organizations
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced charges against nearly 200 people over the last several weeks as part of a nationwide crackdown on drug-trafficking organizations. Arrests were made from seven different field offices: Los Angeles, Columbia, Anchorage, Pittsburgh, Baltimore,... Read More »
Northrop Grumman finishes first Integrated Battle Command System delivery for U.S. Army
The U.S. Army received its first production related to the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) from Northrop Grumman Corporation in December 2023, setting up a key piece of its current air and missile defense modernization strategy. Northrop Grumman delivered an Integrated Collaborative... Read More »
Department of Defense splits $192.5M award for seven domestic manufacturers of critical chemicals
In all, seven awards were recently announced under the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Production Act Investments (DPAI) program, bringing $192.5 million to bear for the creation of domestic, critical chemical manufacturing capabilities. Each award was given as a contract, and... Read More »
Senators press TSA for answers as agency delays planned PreCheck enrollment expansion
Despite legal obligations, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has delayed expanding its PreCheck program to underserved areas and reportedly opened itself to security breaches, earning the ire of two senators this week. United States Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Thune (R-SD)... Read More »
Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Competition Act advances out of committee with bipartisan support
In a recent vote, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Competition Act advanced its way out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, leaving the Senate to consider its push to prepare federal employees for cybersecurity threats. “By ensuring our nation has a... Read More »
Public safety broadband network to expand as FirstNet transitions to full 5G network
After an initial five-year buildout, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board recently voted to invest further into the public safety broadband network, expanding and fully transitioning it to a fully 5G network. “The FirstNet Authority is making a major investment in... Read More »
USCIS final rule targets fraud among employer H-1B visa program
Updates are coming to the H-1B visa program, under a final rule recently released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that sought to beef up integrity measures for registration, emphasize a beneficiary-centric selection process and provide new codifications. H-1B... Read More »