Tag: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. The bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and creates a cybersecurity agency at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill streamlines the National Protection and Programs Directorate, re-designating it the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency […]

On December 5, Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced to the House Homeland Security Committee a bill to authorize the participation in overseas interagency counterterrorism task forces of personnel of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS Interagency Counterterrorism Task Force Act of 2017 amends Section 102 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, adding […]

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced last week the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office. The new office is established at a time when “The United States faces rising danger from terrorist groups and rogue nation states,” said Secretary Nielsen. According to Nielsen, “DHS is moving […]

November is Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, a time to appreciate and protect the essential services that underpin American society and serve as the backbone of our nation’s economy, security, and health. In a proclamation released yesterday, President Trump stated that “The natural disasters our country has experienced in recent months provide a sobering reminder of […]

On October 26, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Elaine Duke released a statement on DHS’s role in responding to the opioid crisis. Duke’s statement followed President Trump’s announcement that he would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency. In her statement, Duke stated […]

This month, Defense One released a special report concerning cyber defense. Protecting Infrastructure from Cyber Threats is a collection of short pieces on various cyber threats facing the nation. Protecting Infrastructure begins with a piece on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) search for automated defenses from cyber adversaries, then moves on to a […]

On October 23, U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation aimed at combating the opioid epidemic. The Fentanyl and Heroin Task Force Act creates an interagency task force focused on eradicating the illicit fentanyl and heroin trade. Representative Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) co-sponsored the legislation. In her remarks, Rep. Clark spoke about how the opioid crisis has […]

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). NCSAM is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, and is designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives to provide them with tools and resources needed to stay safe online, and increase the resiliency of the Nation in the […]

The U.S. response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean continues after the storms devastated the area last month. Over 12,000 responders from U.S. federal agencies are involved in response efforts, and U.S. personnel have been working closely with partners from the Commonwealth. Department of Defense (DoD) personnel continue to support Federal […]

U.S. government agencies continue response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Personnel from various federal departments and agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS), are focused on life-saving and life-sustaining efforts in Puerto Rico and the […]