Threats
DHS resource aids tribal gaming, hospitality industry
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are espousing the benefits of a newly released human trafficking awareness toolkit the agency noted is tailored to tribal gaming and hospitality professionals. The Human Trafficking Response Guide for the Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Industry... Read More »
Bill targets increased cybersecurity awareness
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced legislation that would increase Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) community outreach regarding efforts to offer cyberattack protections. Specifically, the Cybersecurity Awareness Act would direct the Cybersecurity... Read More »
Unlawful entries along Southwest Border down more than 70 percent since Title 42 health order lifted
Despite significant concerns in the lead up to lifting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 public health order in May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that unlawful entries between ports of entry have fallen more than 70 percent... Read More »
Northrop Grumman touts FAAD C2 capabilities
Aerospace company Northrop Grumman is touting the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system's air and missile defense interoperability among Baltic states, NATO, and U.S. forces. “FAAD C2 will enable the Baltic region forces to make faster, better-informed decisions to... Read More »
Philadelphia Border Patrol officers seize nearly $15M of counterfeit currency
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers based in Philadelphia seized four massive loads of counterfeit currency last month, raking in a combined total of $14,368,160 in various denominations of fake U.S. currency. “Law enforcement knows that counterfeit and fictitious bank notes have been... Read More »
Imported, disposable e-cigarettes are a vaping disaster for America’s youth, experts say
Congressional lawmakers who have called for a ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on imported flavored disposable e-cigarettes from China and other countries hope they’re getting closer to having their request met. There’s been recent activity at the FDA, which has issued... Read More »
Lawmakers seek extended support for state medical supplies with introduction of State Strategic Stockpile Act
In a bid to extend authorization of and funding for a program supporting state-developed stockpiles of critical drugs, vaccines and other medical supplies, U.S. Reps. Early Carter (R-GA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced the State Strategic Stockpile Act (H.R. 3631) last week. Such... Read More »
Senators press FAA to finalize Saracini Aviation Safety Act, counter airplane hijacking after years of inaction
More than two years after a mandated deadline, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote to federal officials last week urging implementation of the Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2018 that required secondary cockpit barriers for new commercial aircraft. The... Read More »
Defense Department to host Climate Resilience Workshop
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have outlined the 2023 DOD Climate Resilience Workshop slated for July 10-13 in St. Louis, Mo. The effort is in conjunction with the DOD's Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, providing a forum for DOD... Read More »
DHS debuts National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finished building and commissioning a first of its kind National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Kansas last month, opening the doors of the only U.S. lab with biosafety level-4 containment capable of housing large livestock. Supported by... Read More »
Measure seeks to enhance rural emergency medical services
A group of legislators are espousing the benefits of legislation that would bolster rural access to emergency air medical services critical to saving lives. U.S. Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) recently joined U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to... Read More »
Senate legislation reintroduced to improve training for VA personnel handling PTSD claims
Through reintroduction of the VA Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) seek to spur better training for staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked with handling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)... Read More »
Thousands of pounds of fentanyl and narcotics seized, hundreds arrested in latest DHS operations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ran two counter-drug operations over the course of the last two months in Arizona and southern California – Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen – and results can be measured in thousands of pounds of illicit substances seized. While focused... Read More »
FEMA encouraging hurricane season preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are encouraging Puerto Rico residents to get their families and property prepared for hurricane season. “Getting ready for hurricane season should be a routine to residents in the Caribbean area, since it only takes one weather event to... Read More »
Newly introduced Know Your App Act would require online app stores to display origin details
A reckoning of transparency put online app stores firmly in its sights this week, with the introduction of the Know Your App Act in the Senate. Its backers, which included U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), pitched the bill as one meant to better protect... Read More »
CBP details narcotics seizures totaling $7.8M in San Diego
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have commended San Diego Field Office personnel for seizing $7.8 million worth of dangerous drugs in the week leading up to Memorial Day. “Narcotics smuggling continues to be on the rise and our officers will relentlessly continue doing everything... Read More »
House approves legislation addressing permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues
U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) are commending House of Representatives colleagues after approving their legislation addressing the permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues. The lawmakers noted the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act would permanently... Read More »
DoD awards $18M in grants to 11 university teams for research into socio-political drivers of future conflicts
Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced grants of $18 million for 11 university-based faculty teams researching the underlying social and political concepts that may drive future conflicts worldwide. These 11 teams were chosen from approximately 130 applicants across six... Read More »
Measure targets bolstered natural disaster response training
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) have introduced legislation that would help local governments improve natural disaster response through enhanced training. The lawmakers recently detailed the Emergency Management Support Act (H.R. 3626). It ensures local... Read More »
Measure seeks to bolster protections against UAS threats
A group of lawmakers are espousing the benefits of legislation they maintain would bolster efforts countering unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) security threats. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Gary Peters recently joined U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kyrsten... Read More »
World needs swift action if it is to ready itself for next pandemic, international security organizations say
A digital report released last week by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) | bio and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) sounded the alarm in advance of the world’s next pandemic, warning that without bold action, catastrophe will likely follow. Simply put: the world is not ready, by their... Read More »
House Homeland Security Republicans urge updates on Chinese threats to information and communications tech
In a letter sent to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly this week, House House Homeland Security subcommittee leaders requested a briefing on any threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the information and communications technology (ICT)... Read More »
Legislation targets enhanced natural disaster preparedness, response
U.S. Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) are espousing the benefits of newly introduced legislation they maintain would aid natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. According to bill proponents, the Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act would... Read More »
Northrop Grumman outlines progress of Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar program
Northrop Grumman Corporation officials have noted the aerospace company has completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and is on track to begin production on the nation’s early-defense warning missile system. The PDR is in accordance with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s Next... Read More »
Agencies tout updated ransomware reduction resource
Four agencies are espousing the benefits of a newly published updated resource they indicated seeks to help organizations reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through a series of best practices. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation... Read More »
DHS S&T details RIVTD Track 2 launch
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials have outlined the Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration Track 2 launch. DHS S&T indicated in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security... Read More »
Proposed update to federal Dignity Act targets illegal immigration, American economy
As a wide-ranging proposal to revise the United States immigration system, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) led the introduction of an updated Dignity Act this week, gathering a small bipartisan coalition to break Congressional deadlock on the issue. Salazar... Read More »
TSA outlines summer travel season preparedness
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials have indicated the agency is prepared to screen high volumes of passengers at nationwide airport security checkpoints this summer travel season. “TSA is ready to handle this summer’s anticipated increase in travel,” TSA Administrator... Read More »
New House legislation proposes trust fund to build, expand ports of entry and increase CBP staff
By introducing the Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Modernization Trust Fund Act (H.R.3135) this week, a collection of five congressional lawmakers proposed creating a fund to advance new ports of entry, improve the old and gather both new staff and technology to assist border efforts. Backed by... Read More »
New funding opportunity seeks network for disease forecasting at CDC
Under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) launched last week, the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) announced efforts to strengthen outbreak response among decision makers through creation of a disease forecasting network. CFA is a part of the Centers for Disease Control... Read More »
Lawmakers seek insight on suspected southern border terrorists crossing
Three legislators recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking insight regarding suspected terrorists illegally crossing the southern border. U.S. Reps. Mark E. Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, James Comer (R-KY),... Read More »
IARPA details population mobility patterns examination initiative
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) has launched a research program the agency maintains examines global population mobility patterns while providing alerts when anomalies emerge. Serving as the advanced research and development arm of the Office of the Director of... Read More »
National Association of Attorneys General call on Congress to classify xylazine as controlled substance
Fearing the proliferation of illicit versions of the drug xylazine – or tranq – and its effects on the U.S. public, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) wrote to Congressional leaders last week urging passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1839). The legislation... Read More »
Counter drug trafficking bill meant to benefit DHS advances out of Senate committee
The Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act (S.1464) advanced to the Senate floor last week, after approval from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired its author, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Together with co-author U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Peters created a... Read More »