Threats
Legislation demanding Chinese sanctions advances beyond House committee
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 »
Marshals’ Operation North Star III yields arrests of more than 4,400 fugitives nationwide
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 »
DHS gathers private experts for Homeland Intelligence Experts Group
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 »
House Homeland Security Republicans probe DHS, DoD and FBI over reported Chinese attempts to access sensitive U.S. sites
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 »
Secure the Border Act introduced to push border wall, make immigration standards more strict
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 »
DHS: High risk of foreign and domestic terrorism remains for U.S. headed into 2024
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 »
DARPA seeks technologies to maintain commercial drones operations when connectivity fails
With the launch of the Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA) program this week, within the next 18 months DARPA intends to create ways for commercial drones to work autonomously on predefined tasks after connection with their operators is lost. “REMA is focused on creating autonomous... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Tillis, Hickenlooper press Biden administration to reduce threats from artificial intelligence
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 »
Sens. Tillis, Brown seek to reauthorize Marshals’ Fugitive Safe Surrender Program
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 »
Russian nationals indicted over Trickbot malware, Conti ransomware schemes
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 »
Inspector General report claims CBP risked officer safety through international mail management failures
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 »
DHS awards $20M in grants to 34 organizations in targeted violence, terrorism prevention effort
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 »
Passport backlog at State Department called out by House Foreign Affairs Republicans
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 »
U.S., Puerto Rican authorities seize 860 pounds of cocaine from smugglers near Puerto Rico
Thanks to joint work by Marine Interdiction Agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and Puerto Rico Police Department FURA agents, a boat carrying 860 pounds of cocaine was seized over the weekend. On Saturday, September 2, FURA alerted a patrolling... Read More »
Republican lawmakers oppose SEC cybersecurity rules
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 »
Federal Operation Without a Trace helped 2023 southbound firearm seizures to date surpass all of 2022
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week that its Operation Without a Trace had helped seize more firearms headed out the U.S. Southwest border by the end of July than were halted throughout all of FY 2022. The operation was a coordinated enforcement effort between DHS... Read More »
Reps. Green, Pfluger seek answers from Biden administration on Iran threats
U.S. Reps. Mark Green, MD (R-TN) and August Pfluger (R-TX) are requesting that the Biden administration provide more information on threats made by Iran against U.S. officials and individuals. Specifically, the lawmakers are requesting a briefing on the ongoing threats against former national... Read More »
U.S Treasury sanctions Russia-based individuals for part in North Korea WMD scheme
The United States is part of a collation that sanctioned two individuals and one entity for their involvement in generating revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), also known as North Korea, and its unlawful development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic... Read More »
Marines complete training in Nevada to conduct U.S. Embassy reinforcement, evacuation missions
Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed training in Reno, Nevada, Aug. 24 to conduct U.S. Embassy reinforcement and noncombatant evacuation operation missions. The training was supported by the U.S. Department of State advisors at U.S. Army National Guard Base... Read More »
Public Health Emergency declared in Florida in response to Hurricane Idalia
After Hurricane Idalia struck Florida as a Category 3 storm, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) in the state and authorized deployment of emergency response personnel. Approximately 68 medical and disaster... Read More »
Republicans allege Chinese funding influence in American K-12 schools
A total of 18 Republican senators wrote to United States Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona this week with an unusual demand: an investigation into school funding owing to supposed Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence. The letter followed a report from the conservative Parents... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Wenstrup blasts COVID-19 relief while decrying theft by criminals
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, derided COVID-19 programs as rife with waste, fraud, and abuse – and demanded to know how $280 billion of it was taken by... Read More »
Rep. Barr introduces bill to enforce supervision of scientific and technological agreements between U.S. and China
Through introduction of the Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act (H.R. 5245) last week, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) proposed new risk assessments, human rights considerations and enforced monitoring of any scientific and technological partnership agreements... Read More »
Montana lawmakers urge revocation of new TSA employee screening policy
In a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, both Montana Republicans, called for the administration to undo a new employee screening policy they said would overly burden Montana airports. Under scrutiny... Read More »
HHS awards more than $1.4B to develop new COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics
Through Project NextGen, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $1.4 billion this week to support development of new tools, technologies and trials of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. Of these funds, the bulk – $1 billion – went to vaccine clinical... Read More »
Republicans urge DOD to halt sale of border wall construction materials
Republicans on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) this week demanding that all sales of border wall construction materials be halted, and accused the department of brazenly attempting to circumvent Congressional decisions. At the heart of the... Read More »
DHS distributes more than $77M in funding to communities receiving migrants
Responding to the needs of migrant host communities throughout the country, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week announced more than $77 million would go to border and interior communities housing those awaiting immigration proceedings. It’s an extension of the Shelter and... Read More »
DARPA seeks non-cold storage preservation techniques for bio samples
While lab-based testing has advanced in many ways over the years, sample preservation still relies on refrigerated transport that can cause challenges in remote environments, and this month Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched a new program to solicit alternatives. At... Read More »
Passport Modernization Act introduced to speed up passport processing
Facing a post-pandemic travel surge, the State Department has struggled to address a nearly 40 percent increase in passport application requests since 2022, and now new legislation seeks to update and make the passport process more efficient to cut down on strain. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Buddy... Read More »
BAE Systems wins $14M contract from DARPA to develop technology for advanced signal processing, computing
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded a $14 million contract to BAE Systems this week for development of its Massive Cross Correlation (MAX) program. That program is developing technology related to next-generation sensing, imaging and communications systems, and DARPA... Read More »
Bipartisan, bicameral effort presses President Biden to hold Iran accountable for threats to American oil
Oil from an Iranian tanker off Texas remains in limbo despite its seizure by American personnel, and United States lawmakers from both parties and both chambers of Congress are growing fed up after the months-long delay in transfer. In a letter to President Joe Biden, led by U.S. Sen. Joni... Read More »
DHS S&T prepares to debut ExPRT database on explosives threats
Building on more than $60 million in basic and applied research and 20 years of work in the field, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is nearing release of a comprehensive database on explosives. ExPRT, as the database is known, will assist... Read More »Senators urge Department of State action on tobacco smuggling over health, security concerns
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a group of five senators raised alarms over illicit trafficking of tobacco products, denouncing them as threats to public health and a significant source of revenue for transnational criminal organizations. U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, M.D.... Read More »
DoD launches generative AI task force to guide innovation, risk assessment
Reckoning with the growing attention on and potential of artificial intelligence, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) last week created a generative AI task force to analyze, integrate and responsibly utilize large language models, and more. These efforts were gathered under the... Read More »