Threats
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 »
SECURE IT Act introduced in search for ways to secure U.S. election infrastructure
U.S. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced the SECURE IT Act in the House this week, promoting required, simulated attacks on voting systems as part of their certification process to improve security. “We continue to hear reports of foreign governments,... Read More »
DEA warns e-commerce companies over sales of pill presses
With the danger posed by illicit fentanyl at the forefront of concerns for drug regulators, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently wrote to e-commerce companies collectively warning them about the legal dangers of selling pill presses. These presses, the agency alleged, have... Read More »
Senators raise concerns about proposed global pandemic accord for its weakening of IP protections
In a letter to United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a group of senators voiced concern over a proposed global accord by the World Health Organization (WHO) that seeks to aid pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. However, the lawmakers argued that it could also weaken... Read More »
Representatives seek data on underground smuggling tunnels in Subterranean Border Defense Act
U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced this week border security legislation that seeks to focus on countering underground smuggling tunnels. The Subterranean Border Defense Act (H.R.7404) would specifically push for annual reports to Congress on efforts made to counteract illicit cross-border... Read More »
United States, U.K. take down international LockBit ransomware group
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that, together with the United Kingdom, it had successfully disrupted the LockBit ransomware group, seizing its infrastructure and developing decryption capabilities for its software. The group has reportedly targeted more than 2,000... Read More »
TSA warns against rising risk of drones while holding new drone response training
As the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this month held its first drone response training outside the country since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, the administration warned of criminal, terrorist and more generic threats posed by unmanned aircraft. This case as the... Read More »
House Homeland Security committee, federal agencies hold classified briefing focused on TikTok
Security concerns regarding TikTok, which have passed in and out of Congress for years, surged back into focus again recently as the House Committee on Homeland Security gathered federal agencies for a classified briefing on the Chinese firm-owned app. In a meeting led by U.S. Rep. August... Read More »
Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act proposes border changes, appropriations for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
With the introduction of the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act recently, a bipartisan mix of representatives are pushing for year-long authorities to secure the United States-Mexico border and provide $66.32 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This latest attempt to both solve... Read More »
Discussion draft of ONSHORE Manufacturing Act proposes incentives for domestic battlefield medicine, device manufacturing
U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released this week a discussion draft of a new bill known as the ONSHORE Manufacturing Act, which proposes incentives to encourage domestic manufacturing of critical battlefield medicines and devices. ONSHORE, which stands for the Our Nation’s Supply chain for... Read More »
TSA reports successful operations during Super Bowl LVIII weekend
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported successful safety operations during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nev., securing the routes in and out of Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and continuing their efforts once the game was over. At LAS, the TSA readied for a surge of... Read More »
Republican bill proposes death penalty or life sentences for killing police officers
Through the Fallen Law Enforcement Act introduced this week, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Cornyn (R-TX) seek to strengthen penalties for attacks on law enforcement across the board. The bill would require death penalties or life imprisonment imposed on anyone... Read More »
International effort results in cybercrime charges, seizure of internet domains used to sell malware
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with international law enforcement organizations, recently announced the seizure of internet domains used to sell malware and a pair of indictments lodged against individuals in Malta and Nigeria. Federal authorities in Boston seized four... Read More »
DETECT Act seeks cybersecurity guidelines for federal usage of drones
With their recent introduction of the Drone Evaluation to Eliminate Cyber Threats Act of 2024 (DETECT Act), U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) seek to direct the development of cybersecurity guidelines for the federal government’s use of drones. “Drones and unmanned systems... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security, NFL collaborate on Super Bowl security
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., this week as part of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) review of operations underway for Super Bowl LVIII, in conjunction with local and state law enforcement and the National Football League (NFL). The... Read More »
Bill to improve federal building security advances to Senate floor
Overcoming its first hurdle, the Improving Federal Building Security Act (S.3613) passed out of committee this week, putting its ideas of timely improvements for federal buildings into consideration by the full Senate. Earlier, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) issued recommendations on... Read More »
DHS launches artificial intelligence expert hiring push to scrutinize use of AI
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to hire 50 artificial intelligence experts this year as part of a unique initiative meant to create a new team focused on ensuring responsible use of AI. Dubbed a hiring sprint, the effort will yield what the DHS is calling its AI Corps.... Read More »