Threats
Nuclear Threat Initiative urges reprioritizing nuclear threats, innovative new strategies
The dangers of nuclear catastrophe are still very real, according to Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) president and COO Joan Rohfing, and at a recent event at the University of Pennsylvania, she urged new ideas, new thinkers and new funding to address it. The working theory of nuclear deterrence... Read More »
Foreign Relations Committee Republicans call on State Department to better combat growing Chinese military footprint
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 »
Biden administration indicts Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and employees for fentanyl trafficking
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 »
New opportunity for critical infrastructure owners, operators to test equipment against GPS disruption and spoofing
In Fall 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will give Critical Infrastructure Owners & Operators (CI O&O) and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment manufacturers a chance to test their tools against GPS disruption and... Read More »
TSA expects to break firearm seizure record at airports this year
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 »
DHS S&T awards nearly $200,000 to Synthetik Insurance Analytics for flood analysis technology
A South Dakota startup called Synthetik Insurance Analytics won a $199,948 Phase 1 Other Transaction award from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week for development of flood data analysis technology. The third applicant to receive an... Read More »
DoD labels China, Russia as greatest international threats in 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
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 »
Department of Defense contracts Aerosol, Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors from Smiths Detection
As a means to detect, identify, alarm and report traditional and advanced chemical threats, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week chose Smiths Detection to provide 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD). The award, which included five fixed systems for ships... Read More »
Biden administration adds national security protections to CHIPS incentives program
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 »
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 »