Threats
New legislation seeks to streamline cases for Camp Lejeune water victims
As the legal actions over decades of contaminated water at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune continue, last week U.S. Reps. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) and Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced a bill to remove barriers to veteran benefits under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. “Our brave veterans put their... Read More »
FEMA, NOAA, and NWS issue annual hurricane outlook ahead of 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
In preparation for the 2024 hurricane season’s kickoff next month, FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks joined National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, and National Weather Service (NWS) Director Ken Graham issued the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Moolenaar urge DOJ to investigate drone group
On Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the Drone Advocacy Alliance (DAA) for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The DAA is an advocacy group that is funded by Chinese... Read More »
New bill would require U.S. Intelligence agencies to develop cyber safeguards for ports
With the introduction of the Secure Smartports Act, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) seek to convince their fellow lawmakers of the danger to U.S. ports posed by Chinese cyberattacks and intrusion. “Every day we don’t understand the risks of relying on Chinese technology is... Read More »
U.S. Cyber Command, DARPA advance partnership under Constellation technology pathway
Although they have been working together on the Constellation pilot program since 2022, the U.S. Cyber Command and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently deepened their ties with an agreement on future planning necessities. Constellation is a pilot program meant to get cyber... Read More »
House lawmakers press DoD to accelerate weapon deliveries, training for Ukraine
Amid ramped up assaults by Russian forces on Ukraine, a group of U.S. Congress members recently urged the Biden administration to hasten deliveries of resources to its Eastern European ally. “The Ukrainian people continue to demonstrate a strong willingness to resist Russian efforts to take... Read More »
House advances Israel Security Assistance Support Act
The House of Representatives last week voted through the Israel Security Assistance Support Act (H.R. 8369), which would restrict the president’s ability to withhold weapons transfers to Israel. “The Biden Administration’s decision to withhold weapons is catastrophic and goes directly... Read More »
Effort to equip female DHS officers with better tailored body armor advances through Senate committee
A bill from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Katie Britt (R-AL) to get next generation body armor – better suited to its wearers – to the Department of Homeland Security’s(DHS) law enforcement personnel advanced swiftly out of committee last week. The senators introduced the DHS Better... Read More »
Bipartisan effort calls for details on foreign attempts to infiltrate U.S. military bases
A group of seven U.S. representatives recently wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a search for details on foreign adversaries’ attempts to spy on U.S. military bases. Led by U.S. Reps. Keith Self (R-TX) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), the members asked Austin to detail the number of... Read More »
House bill calls for AI task force within Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
As more governments and businesses seek what artificial intelligence (AI) can offer, U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) want to make certain guardrails are in place through new legislation and a new federal task force. In the recently introduced Cybersecurity and... Read More »
Commerce Department blacklists 37 Chinese entities over quantum, spying concerns
The U.S. Commerce Department recently added 37 Chinese entities to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) trade restriction list, blacklisting them for a wide range of national security concerns. The reasons ranged from support for the spy balloon that flew over the United States last year,... Read More »
BIOSECURE Act would prohibit federal contracting with biotechnology firms of foreign adversaries
With China in mind, U.S. Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) recently introduced the BIOSECURE Act (H.R.8333) – a bill to make it illegal for the federal government to contract with the biotechnology companies of foreign adversaries. Pitched as a way to safeguard... Read More »
U.S. initiative targets money mules involved in fraud
As part of an annual action known as the Money Mule Initiative, federal law enforcement agencies took action against more than 3,000 alleged mules looking to undertake a variety of transnational fraud schemes. Participating agencies included the U.S. Justice Department, FBI, U.S. Postal... Read More »
Rise in transit crime sparks concern from House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
In a recent letter to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Republicans from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently pressed for details on the federal response to and mitigation of safety threats to transit passengers nationwide. Their query based itself largely on... Read More »
Shuffle at the Cyber Safety Review Board as four seats change hands
The Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which is only two years old, announced a shakeup in membership this week, as four current members departed and were replaced by others. The Board was created in February 2022, following President Joe Biden's direction to improve U.S. cybersecurity. It is... Read More »
New federal report connects emergency responders with non-detonable training aids for explosive detection dogs
In order to properly prepare working canines for explosives detection, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a new report to help emergency responders find non-detonable training aids. “The Detection Canine Program at S&T plays a critical... Read More »
Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Act proposes federal grant funding for physical border barriers
Through new legislation, U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Mike Turner (R-OH) recently placed themselves at odds with the Biden administration by seeking to enable federal grant funding for states to create physical barriers at the southern border. A hallmark of the previous Trump... Read More »
Avian flu outbreak prompts Congressional request for interagency coordination
Fearing the potential behind a recent outbreak of avian flu (H5N1), 17 U.S. senators wrote to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack this week urging a more coordinated approach between federal, public and state agencies. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Read More »
FBI Report: Older population hit by more than $3.4B in scam losses in 2023
According to the latest Elder Fraud Report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 2023 brought losses of more than $3.4 billion to those over 60 years old in the United States, thanks to an increasing variety of targeted scams. “This report underscores the fact that seniors are a... Read More »
Protect and Serve Act would elevate the harming or attempted harm of law enforcement to a federal crime
Following the deaths of four police officers while executing an arrest warrant in North Carolina last week, a group of U.S. senators introduced the Protect and Serve Act (S. 4258) to turn attempts to harm or successfully harming a law enforcement officer into a federal crime. Traditionally, such... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Steil, Dean introduce legislation to target human trafficking among other countries
As a way to crackdown on human trafficking, two U.S. representatives recently introduced the Exposing the Financing of Human Trafficking Act (H.R. 8185), which would authorize the United States to hold foreign countries accountable for related efforts targeting these criminal... Read More »
FEMA launches new hurricane season campaign with multicultural messaging on flood risks
The 2024 Hurricane Season Campaign began for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week, and this year, the agency’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) intends to expand its community outreach by communicating risks through six languages. Targeting those in the most... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security forms AI Safety and Security Board
As a new means to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security and stakeholders, and promote safe development of artificial intelligence (AI), the department recently formed the AI Safety and Security Board. Joined by more than 20 technology and critical infrastructure executives, civil rights... Read More »
Embattled TikTok in jeopardy as President Biden signs legislative ban
The ByteDance-owned TikTok faces an uphill battle in the United States after President Joe Biden signed a law this week forcing it to sell to a U.S. company or be banned outright. Biden’s signature was the final stroke needed to pass the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled... Read More »
Reward offered for Iranian nationals charged over multi-year cyber campaign against U.S. companies
In unsealing a 13-page indictment this week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed charges against four Iranian nationals for their alleged involvement in a hacking campaign against the U.S. government and private companies. The defendants remain at large and the United States has... Read More »
House advances aid for Ukraine, Israel and defense manufacturing after weeks of doubt
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a $95 billion package (H.R.815) over the weekend that will include aid for Ukraine and Israel, and billions in support for the domestic defense industrial base. The Ukraine portion of the bill passed 311-112, with one vote as simply present, but it,... Read More »
Ammunition Supply Chain Act proposes mandated reporting on materials key to U.S. ammunition manufacturing
Under a new bill – the Ammunition Supply Chain Act – proposed in the House by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the U.S. Army would need to prepare a thorough report on the supply chain of ammunition manufacturing. “As threats to our nation’s... Read More »
Restoring American Deterrence Act seeks nuclear overhauls to deter China and Russia
Focused on China and Russia as the combined threats of the present and future, a group of senators recently introduced the Restoring American Deterrence Act to revise United States nuclear preparedness and update deterrence strategies. The bill was based on recommendations from the Congressional... Read More »
Bipartisan House effort seeks sanctions for Chinese firms backing Russian invasion of Ukraine
This week, a collection of Republican and Democratic legislators introduced a bill to sanction any Chinese military firm supporting Russia. In the NO LIMITS ACT, U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Jared Golden (D-ME) proposed blanket sanctions for... Read More »
Eight preparedness grant recipients to split $1.8B from DHS
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced more than $1.8 billion in preparedness grants to benefit eight recipients in fiscal year 2024 in addressing capacity, flexibility and high priority investments. “As threats continue to evolve, the Department of Homeland... Read More »
DHS opens applications for 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a notice of funding opportunity for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program recently, opening a month-long application period for interested parties to seek out $18 million. Online, in-person, and... Read More »
Blast Overpressure Safety Act introduced to demand better oversight of shockwave trauma from explosive weapons
A new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) proposed protections for servicemembers by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to pursue better blast overpressure screening, tracking, prevention and treatment measures. Blast overpressure is the pressure... Read More »
GAO: Lack of workforce and fleet data may imperil Coast Guard efforts to modernize aircraft fleet
According to new findings from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet of about 200 aircraft suffer from a major flaw in its lack of analytical data. The Coast Guard relies on its aircraft to protect the U.S. coastline and... Read More »
U.S. Coast Guard to conduct port security training exercise in Puerto Rico this month
Through an exercise known as Poseidon’s Domain, the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve will take crews from three of its Port Security Units (PSU) and put them to the test along the northeast and eastern coasts of Puerto Rico this month. From April 8 to April 25, crews from PSUs 305, 307, and 309 will... Read More »