Threats
Sens. Cortez Masto, Hoeven introduce legislation to strengthen Tribal law enforcement, counter growing number of missing and murdered Indigenous women
For years, Tribal members and advocates have been trying to draw attention to what they call a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and now, U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Hoeven (R-ND) have introduced legislation that takes it as a focus. In the... Read More »
DHS Secretary Mayorkas details homeland security challenges
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas recently detailed evolving homeland security challenges during the 59th Munich Security Conference. While addressing senior Intelligence personnel, Mayorkas emphasized the importance of enhancing information-sharing... Read More »
CBP details 321 Data Pilot participation expansion
A recently published Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Register Notice is soliciting additional Section 321 Data Pilot participants, which would aid shipment inspection efforts. The Section 321 Data Pilot would enable CBP to partner with private sector supply chains to identify and... Read More »
Bill seeks to address mass violence prevention
A group of legislators recently co-sponsored legislation that seeks to prevent mass violence acts. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) recently joined U.S. Reps.... Read More »
NIH scientists advance understanding of mpox through development of mouse model
According to new research published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,” scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have developed a mouse model of the mpox virus (MPXV) as a way to demonstrate and understand aspects of its... Read More »
CBP agriculture specialists discover first-in-nation pest in Otay Mesa flower shipment
In one of the more unusual discoveries at a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility last month, agriculture specialists discovered a first-in-nation pest hiding in a shipment of fresh-cut flowers. The bug, later lab identified as Corimelaena palmeri, was the first intruder of... Read More »
Secret Service announces Baltic Computer Forensics Training Program
U.S. Secret Service personnel have outlined the opening of a new Baltic Computer Forensics Training Program (CFTP). The endeavor is in partnership with the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and Baltic regional law enforcement, linking law enforcement officers from around the Baltic region to... Read More »
Legislation targets southern border security initiatives
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-MT) and Katie Britt (R-AL) recently proposed legislation they maintain would secure the southern border and keep American communities and families safe. Hoeven and Britt joined 17 colleagues in co-sponsoring a resolution forcing the Biden administration to acknowledge... Read More »
Sen. Peters reintroduces legislation to improve contracting process surrounding disaster recovery
With any disaster comes a need for cleanup, which generally means contracting work, and last week, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) reintroduced the Disaster Contract Improvement Act to improve the whole process and save taxpayers money. “Ensuring there is clear guidance on the removal of debris... Read More »
Two legislative measures seek reports on North Korea activity
U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) has joined two colleagues in introducing measures requiring the President of the United States to provide Congress with reports on North Korea’s activity. The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act and the Korean Interdiction and Modernization... Read More »
U.S., South Korean agencies issue joint Cybersecurity Advisory for critical infrastructure as result of North Korean actions
Efforts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to produce state-sponsored ransomware and have successfully attacked healthcare and public health sector organizations and other critical infrastructure, according to a new advisory. This Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) was the... Read More »
Sen. Rubio introduces No Coyote Cash bill to criminalize financing of unlawful border crossings
Although crossing into the United States unlawfully is a crime, some argue financially assisting that crime is only vaguely addressed as a crime itself - so this week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and several colleagues set out to change that through the No Coyote Cash Act. “President... Read More »
Bill seeks to address Iranian regime corruption exposure
U.S. Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) recently reintroduced the Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act to address Iranian regime corruption via a compiled list of Iranian oligarchs and entities profiting off the Iranian people. "Over the years, the world has... Read More »
Justice Department outlines illegal exportation sentencing
Justice Department officials have detailed the sentencing of a dual citizen of the United States and Iran for alleged illegal exportation in violation of the International Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Kambiz Attar Kashani, 44, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in federal court in Brooklyn,... Read More »
Coalition of Republican attorneys general urge federal terrorist designation for Mexican Drug Cartels
A coalition of 21 Republican state attorneys general wrote President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week urging them to designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and provide additional federal resources for combating fentanyl. “The national... Read More »
Bill seeks to extend benefits of fallen TSA officers
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) has introduced the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, which extends benefits to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers killed in the line of duty. “Every day, TSA officers put their lives on the line in order to protect millions of Americans in... Read More »
Democratic lawmakers reintroduce Keep Americans Safe Act
A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced the Keep Americans Safe Act, which seeks to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer, or possession of gun magazines holding over 10 rounds of ammunition. U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have joined 26 colleagues in... Read More »
DOJ Roadmap for Implementation for Columbus, Ohio police yields review, changes to problem solving
With the completion of a Roadmap for Implementation for the Columbus Division of Police (CDP) by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), reformation work has begun in the Ohio city to examine and revise the use of force, problem-solving and more.... Read More »
Representatives call for crackdown on Iranian drones, investigation of potential U.S. part connections
Despite major economic restrictions placed on Iran, U.S. intelligence has estimated that perhaps 75 percent of the components for Iranian drones recently used by Russia in suicidal bombing raids against Ukraine were U.S.-made, which caused a stir among House members this week. A bipartisan... Read More »
FBI, partners issue global financial sextortion warning
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined international law enforcement partners in issuing a warning regarding global financial sextortion. "Financial sextortion has a far wider impact than just our country and our kids—it is a global crisis that demands everyone’s attention,"... Read More »
Initiative seeks to strengthen international cybersecurity
The United States has joined Australia, India, and Japan in initiating the Quad Cyber Challenge, which seeks to improve cybersecurity across the nations. "We are inviting Internet users across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to join the Challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber... Read More »
Florida man, Maryland woman charged for extremist-motivated plots to destroy Maryland energy grid
A neo-Nazi leader from Florida and a woman with whom he had a personal relationship were charged by federal prosecutors with plotting to attack electrical substations around Baltimore and cripple the city, according to authorities this week. In an unsealed federal criminal complaint, Sarah Beth... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol trains Mexican counterparts in search, rescue efforts
As part of ongoing bi-national efforts, Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents spent Jan. 9-20, 2023, training 13 members of Mexico’s border rescue agency, Grupos Beta, to undertake migrant rescue along the United States-Mexican border. “It is important that we continue... Read More »
U2opia Technology licenses two cybersecurity monitoring technologies from Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Successful commercialization greeted the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) last week, as U2opia Technology purchased exclusive licensing to two of its technologies for advanced cybersecurity monitoring in real-time. U2opia is a consortium of technology and... Read More »
EBOV-based experimental Sudan virus vaccine shows promise among macaques
In use on macaques, at least, an experimental Sudan virus (SUDV) vaccine created by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research group recently provided complete protection against a lethal case of SUDV. According to findings published in The Lancet Microbe, the vaccine candidate – VSV-SUDV... Read More »
CBP proposed guidance eyes bolstered aviation security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a proposal to enhance international air travel security for commercial flight travelers to and from the United States. The published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addresses the expansion of existing advance data requirements via... Read More »
Reps. Comer, Lucas seek communications regarding DOE National Laboratories targeted by Russian hacking team
U.S. Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Energy (DOE) requesting documents and communications regarding three DOE National Laboratories targeted by a Russian hacking team last year. Comer, chairman of the House Committee on... Read More »
GAO, Rep. Clarke call for greater implementation of federal cybersecurity efforts
Although the majority – nearly 79 percent – of recommendations related to federal cybersecurity called for by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2010 have been implemented, major room for improvement remains, and this week, U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) added her voice to the... Read More »
Air Force to conduct next BRAVO hackathon in March to develop prototypes
The United States Department of the Air Force will conduct a BRAVO hackathon from March 20-24, 2023, as a way for American citizens to help it innovate using open-source software and data otherwise unapproved for production with classified or protected data. This event will take place at... Read More »
Legislation seeks to enable ATF to electronically search gun sale records
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) recently introduced the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act, which would enable the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to electronically search gun sale records following a crime committed with a... Read More »
DHS to implement victim-centered approach into policies for human trafficking
According to the second annual report from the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2022 brought implementation plans for a new victim-centered approach at the agency, along with hundreds of victims aided and thousands of... Read More »
Bipartisan Senate push yields Wildfire Emergency Act to address western wildfires
Seeking to increase preparedness for wildfires and reduce the risks they pose, a bipartisan group of senators this week introduced the Wildfire Emergency Act, using it to push for funding, new programs, and greater firefighter training efforts. “Wildfires throughout Western states,... Read More »
Bill targets bolstered student, educator human trafficking insight
U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) recently introduced legislation that seeks to educate students and teachers regarding human trafficking. The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act would establish a grant program within the Office of... Read More »
DARPA details FSHARP blood equivalent initiative
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials are espousing the benefits of its Fieldable Solutions for Hemorrhage with bio-Artificial Resuscitation Products (FSHARP) program, which addresses blood supply shortages. “When blood donations decline – as we have seen during the... Read More »