The Government Accountability Office has found that the Department of Homeland Security performs risk assessments for critical infrastructure across the three sectors – nuclear reactors, materials and waste; critical manufacturing; and transportation systems – that GAO evaluated.

GAO said in a report published Monday that DHS incorporates the three risk elements into its assessments and those include threats, vulnerabilities and consequences.

The report showed that risk assessments work to help critical infrastructure operators and owners carry out measures to mitigate risks and build up security posture.

Six representatives from the private sector cited threat data as the most useful risk information since it helps facilitate response to security risks among critical infrastructure owners.

The congressional watchdog also found that DHS uses assessment results to guide its strategic planning, Quadrennial Homeland Security Review and outreach efforts for infrastructure operators.

DHS officials noted that they use risk data following an incident to expedite the identification and prioritization of critical infrastructure operators and owners in order to guide their recovery assistance and response outreach initiatives.

The U.S. Strategic Command has kicked off its annual exercise for Stracom personnel to familiarize themselves with various mission areas and increase joint operational readiness.

Stratcom said Friday it will test the preparedness of the command’s headquarters staff, components and subordinate units in responding to unexpected situations during the Global Thunder 2018 event’s command-and-control and field training activities.

U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of Stratcom, said the exercise works to integrate the command’s strategic capabilities for multiple domains.

The command conducts strategic deterrence, cyber, space, electronic warfare, strike, intelligence and missile defense missions worldwide as part of its responsibilities under the Defense Department‘s Unified Command Plan.

U.S. Marine Corps troops in Iwakuni, Japan have commenced a nighttime aerial refueling exercise in aims to improve operational readiness and pilot proficiency.

The Defense Department said Friday the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 or VMGR-152 refueled Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251’s F/A-18C Hornets using a KC-130J Hercules aircraft.

“Every 180 days the squadrons should have completed at least five successful movement-to-contact scenarios with tankers to stay proficient,” said Marine Corps Maj. Brian Miller, aircraft commander at VMGR-152.

“We practice this because if we’re conducting a real-world scenario it’s not always going to be during the day. It could be in inclement weather at night,” Miller added.

The effort aims to train marines to provide aerial refueling and assault support for the Marine air-ground task force, regardless of condition and operation type.

A new report from the Defense Department says the U.S. government has exceeded $1.46 trillion in direct war-related spending since Sept. 11, 2001.

The 74-page DoD report obtained by Secrecy News provides details on war-related appropriations and expenditures, including costs of military operations, deployed troop support and personnel and equipment transportation, the Federation of American Scientists said Sunday.

The figure includes $83 billion in classified spending, but does not cover non-DoD classified projects such as those run by the CIA.

War-related costs exclude indirect expenditures such as veterans’ benefits, healthcare support for injured personnel and post-conflict reconstruction or stabilization programs.

Total war spending, including indirect costs, exceeded $1.6 trillion in 2014, FAS said.

The Department of Homeland Security has launched an effort to develop a single portal for data collection across 47 different agencies that handle goods coming into U.S., Federal News Radio reported Friday.

The agencies participated in conference calls, workshops and agile software development to automate and consolidate more than 200 paper forms, the report said.

Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner for trade at Customs and Border Protection, told the Federal Drive radio show that the program involved support from private sector partners.

Smith advised agencies that work with industry to conduct early and frequent communications as well as agree on a solution that works for both parties.