The United States-Mexico remains a focus of Congressional interest, and the latest offshoot of that emerged this week in the form of the Senate’s Advanced Border Coordination Act, which aims to improve law enforcement communication and coordination.
“From local sheriffs to Border Patrol and... Read More »
On Monday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it had renewed updates to security directives that regulate passenger and freight railroad carriers.
The revised directives, part of an effort to enhance the cybersecurity of surface transportation systems and associated... Read More »
In a far-ranging paper on the past, present, and future of nuclear policy and conflict released this week, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) called for a renewed investigation into the effects of nuclear conflict.
Faced with conflicts currently ranging from Ukraine to Israel and threats of... Read More »
A joint effort from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) last week yielded the Hazard Mitigation Projects Act, which would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to simplify requirements surrounding hazard mitigation grants.
“Too often, complex application... Read More »
With the bicameral introduction of the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act (H.R. 5990) last week, supporters seek to allot for a series of new image technicians within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expedite screenings at U.S. ports of entry.
Created by U.S.... Read More »
With an eye on both inbound and outbound cargo, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a request for information (RFI) last week to call up new approaches to targeting illegal cargo and aiding delivery of legitimate cargo.
"Researching and... Read More »
Real-time, standards-based tests for exchanging supply chain data from three U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborating startups have opened the door for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to begin integrating data from them and their customers.
Companies mesur.io, Neoflow and... Read More »
Calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a group of representatives led by U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) introduced a resolution this week to recognize an outsized number of suspected terrorists recently seized at the northern border.
This year, Customs and... Read More »
A comprehensive report from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States found that, on examination, the long-term strategic posture of the United States is flagging amid worsening global security, and pointed to looming threats from China and Russia alike.
The... Read More »
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Navy has taken steps to address fatigue in its ranks – an ongoing problem that has plagued its ranks for years, even contributing to fatal ship collisions.
Essentially, this was a follow-up to an analysis conducted in 2021,... Read More »
Although the House remains paralyzed in the face of a Republican rift that has left the Speaker position empty, four representatives crossed the aisle this week to introduce the “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act to buoy Israeli defenses.
The bill followed... Read More »
Following the weekend’s surprise attack on Israel that kicked off a brutal war of reprisals between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced new steps to provide security for the state’s Jewish community.
Fearing the spread of violence to Jewish... Read More »
Following weekend attacks by Hamas that caught Israel off guard and launched a declaration of war, the United States reiterated its support for its traditional Middle East ally, as fears of escalation grew.
While Israel now claims its border with Gaza to be secure – three days after a Hamas... Read More »
With more than 300 proposed amendments in hand, the Working Group of Amendments to the IHR undertook a fifth round of discussions over International Health Regulations 2005 last week, setting up a path to a consolidated proposal and further discussions.
Proposed amendments considered by the... Read More »
In a bill that would revise the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and fellow Republicans last week introduced legislation to increase oversight of U.S.-China science and technology agreements (STAs).
Daines joined 12 other Republicans in introducing... Read More »
The dangers of nuclear catastrophe are still very real, according to Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) president and COO Joan Rohfing, and at a recent event at the University of Pennsylvania, she urged new ideas, new thinkers and new funding to address it.
The working theory of nuclear deterrence... Read More »
Warning of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plan to develop overseas naval facilities and logistical hubs to fuel potential future operations, Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week urged the State Department to turn up the pressure.
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (IN), Pete... Read More »
With the announcement of multiple indictments against China-based companies and Chinese employees this week, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a new efforts in an ongoing fight against fentanyl production and trafficking.
“The international dimension... Read More »
In Fall 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will give Critical Infrastructure Owners & Operators (CI O&O) and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment manufacturers a chance to test their tools against GPS disruption and... Read More »
In the first three quarters of 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported 5,072 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints, putting it on track to break its own record of seizures by the end of the year.
With more than 1,800 firearms stopped this quarter alone,... Read More »
A South Dakota startup called Synthetik Insurance Analytics won a $199,948 Phase 1 Other Transaction award from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week for development of flood data analysis technology.
The third applicant to receive an... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released an unclassified version of its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) last week, laying out the foundations of its approach going forward, with a likely heavy approach on China and Russia.
The previous CWMD strategy, released... Read More »
As a means to detect, identify, alarm and report traditional and advanced chemical threats, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week chose Smiths Detection to provide 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD).
The award, which included five fixed systems for ships... Read More »
Through elaboration of certain provisions, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed guardrails on the CHIPS and Science act last week, barring associated funds from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in or jointly researching with foreign countries of concern.
“One of the Biden-Harris... Read More »
A measure to demand sanctions on and prohibit nearly all economic interactions with blacklisted Chinese entities so targeted – the Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2023 (H.R. 760) – advanced from the House Financial Services Committee last week.
Authored by U.S.... Read More »
After three months under Operation North Star III, the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests of 4,455 violent fugitives this week, following targeted efforts in 20 cities to execute warrants for homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and firearms violations.
“ONS is an... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group this week, assembling experts from the private sector to advise on federal intelligence efforts.
Former senior intelligence officials, journalists, and human rights advocates join the assembly,... Read More »
In a letter to the heads of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DoD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the House chairs pressed for details of their responses to supposed Chinese attempts to breach U.S. military and other sensitive sites.
The letter from House... Read More »
As a companion to House-passed legislation H.R. 2, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) last week introduced the Secure the Border Act of 2023, proposing a resumption of border wall construction, harsher asylum and visa standards, and more Border Patrol agents.
Known as S. 2824, the Senate version of the... Read More »
In its freshly released 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that a high risk of foreign and domestic terrorism remains largely unchanged, alongside predatory economic practices and misinformation campaigns.
“Sharing information with... Read More »
With the launch of the Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA) program this week, within the next 18 months DARPA intends to create ways for commercial drones to work autonomously on predefined tasks after connection with their operators is lost.
“REMA is focused on creating autonomous... Read More »
Worried about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt cyber infrastructure and compromise critical data, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) recently wrote to Acting National Cyber Director (ONCD) Kemba Walden seeking information and action.
Foremost,... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Fugitive Safe Reauthorization Act last week to renew the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, which allows U.S. Marshals to work with local faith organizations and get those with warrants to turn themselves into law enforcement.... Read More »
Charges against Russian nationals in three federal jurisdictions were unsealed last week, revealing indictments for cybercrimes committed through Trickbot malware and Conti ransomware in recent years.
“The Justice Department has taken action against individuals we allege developed and deployed... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) failed to properly resolve and monitor issues at International Mail Facilities (IMF), leading to wasted dollars and risks to both officers and its larger mission, according to a newly released report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
CBP... Read More »