Threats
DHS lays out new plans to crack down on illicit textiles
Framing it as a move to strengthen enforcement and support American textile jobs, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a strategy taking aim at illicit textiles and customs violations. “We are dedicated to ensuring a fair and level playing field for American... Read More »
Secret Service targeted California organized crime over EBT fraud in Operation April Fools
Working with law enforcement partners, the U.S. Secret Service recently arrested 10 individuals across the state of California and charged them with crimes related to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud, as part of an action dubbed Operation April Fools. The multi-day operation sought to... Read More »
Justice Department adds major Missouri, Mississippi, and Connecticut cities to Violent Crime Initiative
Building on successful proof of concepts in other cities since 2022, the United States Justice Department announced this week that it will add the cities of St. Louis; Jackson, Mississippi; and Hartford, Connecticut to its Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). “The Justice... Read More »
DHS Cyber Safety Review Board blames corporate culture for 2023 Microsoft Exchange Online incident
Following an independent review of the Microsoft Exchange Online intrusion in summer 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) announced that the attack had been preventable, and steps should be taken to do so in the future. Last summer, Microsoft... Read More »
House Republicans seek review of National Institutes of Health research safeguards
In a letter to the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO), House Republican leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee and its subcommittees urged an investigation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and how it protects research funds from Chinese exploitation. Accusing China of... Read More »
DoD’s Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Strategy calls for strengthened structures, collaboration
With the recent release of its Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Cybersecurity (CS) Strategy, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sought to lay out a means to achieve internal and industry-facing cybersecurity through 2027. The strategy is split into four goal areas: Strengthening the DoD... Read More »
BARDA pledges $50M for innovative patch-based vaccine competition
Looking to build on current RNA-based COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently announced the Patch Forward Prize, pledging $50 million for those who can advance patch-based vaccines. While administering vaccines is most often... Read More »
Weapons detection systems headed to New York City subway system
After a raucous month that included National Guard members on the New York City subway system, the city recently announced a new effort at safety for the transit system, which will include new technology to detect firearms and more clinicians on hand for cases of mental illness. After... Read More »
CISA seeks public input on new cybersecurity incident, ransomware reporting plans
As required by the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on new cybersecurity measures meant to bolster its real-time capabilities. “Cyber... Read More »
Sen. Barrasso raises concerns over DOE’s ability to protect AI R&D from China
With artificial intelligence (AI) the increasing focus of interest for Washington and private companies, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) this week wrote to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm with doubts about her department’s ability to protect research from Chinese interests. “In the... Read More »
Senate advances legislation that emphasizes federal building security
The Senate greenlit the Federal Building Security Act (S. 3613) this week, moving to the House’s consideration a bill that would make federal agencies respond to Federal Protective Services (FPS) security recommendations within 90 days. “Every day, Americans across the country visit federal... Read More »
Senate bill seeks to compel national security risk analysis of economic integration with China
A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced the American Economic Independence Act, which would require the president to provide Congress with a comprehensive threat assessment of integrating economically with China. It would focus on numerous sectors, demanding analysis of both current... Read More »
Sen. Peters presses federal agencies to increase cybersecurity for American health care
Citing cases where cyberattacks targeted health care systems in the United States, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) recently wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) requesting cybersecurity boosts for the... Read More »
U.S. Justice Department launches National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center to curb gun violence
The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a new resource center – the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) – to offer training meant to ultimately keep guns away from extreme risk individuals. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new resource center at Marjory Stoneman... Read More »
Government funding agreement includes $3M allotment to create Northern Border security center
Among the provisions included in the recent $1.2 trillion funding agreement signed by President Joe Biden was a carve-out of $3 million to establish and manage a Northern Border Coordination Center. Championed by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental... Read More »
Senate advances legislation to streamline support, improve response amid disasters
The Senate recently advanced legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Kennedy (R-LA) that seeks to improve the situation facing disaster survivors by reforming the federal support system and the efficacy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the Helping... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee jointly investigating threats posed by biological research, technology
High-risk biological research and technology both in the United States and abroad is under new scrutiny from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, after the announcement of a new investigation by its chair and ranking member. “Biotechnologies, such as CRISPR, are... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee advances ROUTERS Act to scrutinize foreign equipment
Among a flurry of 28 bills advanced 43-0 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently was a technology-check bill by United States Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH): the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act. ROUTERS targeted routers, modems and similar... Read More »
DHS collaborates with European Union for transatlantic comparison of cyber incident reporting
Looking to better align approaches to cyber incidents on both sides of the Atlantic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications, Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CONNECT) recently launched a new comparison... Read More »
DHS releases AI roadmap, new pilot projects to test AI technology for various missions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security laid out its 2024 plans for technology this week, unveiling the launch of three pilot projects to test artificial intelligence for immigration officer training, making it easier to apply for disaster relief grants and improving investigatory efficiency.... Read More »
DHS trained more than 275,000 people to combat human trafficking in 2023
Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly expanded training and education efforts about human trafficking, successfully training more than 275,000 people to recognize the signs and take action. These findings were documents in the recently released Center for... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators seek emergency reserve of key pharmaceutical ingredients through PREPARE Act
In order to avoid some of the worst issues experienced by supply chains at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) recently introduced a bill to create an emergency reserve of active pharmaceutical ingredients while incentivizing domestic... Read More »
Improvements to information sharing between U.S. Intelligence Community, private companies introduced in Congress
Several Democrat and Republican lawmakers from both chambers of Congress recently introduced the Enhancing Public-Private Sharing on Manipulative Adversary Practices in Critical Minerals Projects Act to increase the information sharing relationship between private companies and the U.S.... Read More »
House advances bill to force sale of or effectively ban TikTok in major bipartisan vote
The U.S. House recently passed H.R. 7521, a significant bipartisan bill that seeks to to prevent foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications such as TikTok. Specifically, H.R. 7521 – the... Read More »
World’s largest crane manufacturer faces Congressional investigation over Chinese access to U.S. critical infrastructure
House Homeland Security Committee leaders sent a letter to the global crane manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) this week following a joint investigation that found communication equipment on Chinese-made cranes used at American ports. “Over the course of our eight-month... Read More »
DHS to set up wildfire, wind sensors across Hawaii
In an effort to mitigate and manage wildfires in the Hawaiian islands, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) plan to deploy 80 wildfire sensors and 16 wind sensors throughout the state. Earlier detection and alerts are the focus of the push, which was in... Read More »
END Fentanyl Act headed for president’s signature, with policy updates promised for CBP
After passing its final hurdles in the U.S. House, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act is headed for review by President Joe Biden. If signed into law, the bill – S.206 –... Read More »
Prototype self-service screening system unveiled at Harry Reid International Airport
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck passengers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas will soon become the first travelers in the country to use a prototype checkpoint system that allows for self-service screening. By mid-March, the TSA and the Department of Homeland... Read More »
House Science Committee leaders question DoD for lack of concerns over science-based emissions reduction rule
Republican leaders of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee recently called on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to explain its silence over a Biden administration-proposed emissions rule they denounced for alleged national security concerns. In January, the committee released a... Read More »
Nonprofit Maine Defense Industry Alliance formed to train employees for state’s industrial base
A coalition of Maine defense companies, state agencies, community colleges and universities, and other vocational training organizations recently founded the Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA) to train thousands of employees to perform jobs critical to the state’s defense industrial... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection extends direct-hire authority for 200 air interdiction agents to 2026
Expedited hiring authority is in place for the induction of 200 air interdiction agents by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and recently, that authority was extended through Jan. 30, 2026. The position is open to pilots with a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, including 250 as... Read More »
MOVE Act introduced in bid to secure supply chains during emergencies
In a bipartisan move, U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Jim Costa (D-CA) recently introduced the Modernizing Operations for Vehicles in Emergencies (MOVE) Act to expand timeframes for federal emergency declarations and more to support emergency supply chain needs. “During times of emergency... Read More »
Democratic senators call on President Biden to continue stressing border security in next budget request
Undeterred by previous failures to advance border security measures in Congress, a group of Democratic senators recently pressed President Joe Biden to prioritize border security and fentanyl crackdowns in his Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. While a national security package with border... Read More »
VA health care expanding to all veterans exposed to toxins, hazards come March
In a major expansion of health care offerings, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to roll out health care access to all veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during their service as of March 5, 2024. This will include millions of veterans, including those who served in... Read More »