Category: IA News

In July, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report assessing the effectiveness of emergency communications after the implementation of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA). The PKEMRA was enacted to improve the federal government’s preparation for and response to disasters, including emergency communications. GAO-16-681 examines federal efforts to implement PKEMRA emergency communications […]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has promised to address cybersecurity risks within each state’s election systems. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson remarked during a conference call earlier this month that while DHS is not aware of any credible threats to the general election systems, multiple entities are available to offer support and assistance in protecting […]

On August 10, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the initial results of their Combating Zika and Future Threats Grand Challenge that was issued in April of this year. USAID’s efforts align with the whole-of-government strategy to combat Zika. The challenge called for innovations from around the world to address the current Zika outbreak […]

This week a select group of civilians was invited to participate in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), an event that has occurred fairly regularly since 1948, where they visited the Pentagon and other military bases to learn first hand from the troops and leaders of the armed services. The week-long conference includes 40 participants […]

The White House Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity has posted a request for information (RFI) regarding cybersecurity in the digital economy. The Commission’s RFI explains their goal, stating that “Steps must be taken to enhance existing efforts to increase the protection and resilience of the digital ecosystem, while maintaining a cyber environment that encourages efficiency, innovation […]

The Department of Defense (DoD) has updated its procedures on intelligence activities. The updated manual governs “how DoD intelligence elements will conduct activities supporting their missions while safeguarding legal rights and protections guaranteed by the Constitution to all U.S. persons,” said DoD senior intelligence oversight official Michael Mahar. Changes to DoD Manual 5240.01, “Procedures Governing the Conduct […]

In June, the Atlantic Council published a report on the organization and performance of the National Security Council (NSC) system. The report provides insight and advice intended to help the next administration build an effective national security structure and clear up “strategic confusion.” The report is the result of multiple interviews and seminars with over sixty senior foreign […]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) inspector general and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have launched a probe looking into the toxic water spill at Gold King mine last year. The agencies are investigating whether any federal officials engaged in criminal activity in the buildup to and aftermath of a leak of wastewater at an abandoned mine. […]

A group of students from the U.S. Army War College’s Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) recently traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti where they saw first-hand the ongoing recovery after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the county. While in Haiti, the PKSOI students had a front row seat to the whole-of-government coordination required for long-term development efforts. […]

Earlier this month, the State Department provided an update on their Global Engagement Center, which was established this spring after the signing of Executive Order 13721.  The Center is an interagency entity charged with coordinating U.S. counterterrorism messaging to foreign audiences, and replaced the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. The Center is staffed by detailees from several […]