The National Security Agency recommends that the White House end a surveillance program that gathers data on U.S. phone calls and text messages to detect and disrupt any terrorist plot against the country, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Sources said the recommendation stems from concerns that the program’s intelligence benefits have been outweighed by legal compliance and logistical issues.
Read More »DHS Unveils Terrorism, Violence Prevention Committee
The Department of Homeland Security created a committee to help respond to all forms of violence. The Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention will coordinate, follow through and use the agency's prevention activities including information sharing and law enforcement briefings to protect communities from potential threats, DHS said Friday.
Read More »FBI Wants to Explore Cloud to Speed Up Terrorism Investigations
The FBI is looking at the cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning to help its investigators and analysts speed up review of large volumes of data collected in terrorism investigations, FedScoop reported Wednesday.
ODNI Launches New Governance Structure Under Transformation Initiative; Dan Coats Comments
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has established a new organizational structure and implemented new processes as part of a transformation effort unveiled in March. “Our comprehensive approach to transformation covered many areas, including synchronizing and streamlining processes, better developing our people, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our decisions …
Read More »Trump Announces U.S. Exit from Iran Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the U.S. government’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015. Trump also signed a memorandum that seeks to reinstate nuclear-related economic sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, according to a transcript of his remarks published Tuesday. “Any nation that helps Iran in its …
Read More »FBI Director Christopher Wray, UAE VP & PM discuss bilateral security cooperation
Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, and the head of the United Arab Emirates discussed the countries’ partnership for the enforcement of security in the region and the world. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, received the FBI …
Read More »Trump Calls for End to Defense Sequester in First State of the Union Speech
President Donald Trump has vowed to rebuild the U.S. military strength and called on lawmakers to fully fund defense operations and put an end to military spending cuts in his first state of the union address, Defense News reported Tuesday. Trump cited the threats posed by foreign countries such as …
Read More »Trump Administration Orders Freeze on Security Aid to Pakistan
The White House on Thursday decided to impose a freeze on all security aid to Pakistan in response to the South Asian country’s refusal to quell terrorist groups, The New York Times reported Thursday. The decision could suspend annual aid worth approximately $1.3 billion, which includes $1.1 billion in Coalition …
Read More »DHS Forms Office to Coordinate Efforts Against Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Department of Homeland Security has created an office that will work to streamline its efforts to prevent terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction against U.S citizens and interests. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office will consolidate key functions and steer DHS’ strategy against WMD threats under the …
Read More »North Korea Launches 3rd Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Test
Army Col. Robert Manning, a spokesman for the Defense Department, has said DoD identified and tracked an intercontinental ballistic missile launched by North Korea, the Pentagon reported Tuesday. The ICBM took off from the northern part of North Korea’s Pyongyang capital at 1:17 p.m. Eastern time and flew approximately 620 …
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