Digital Government
Super Bowl gears up for massive security operation
While immigration officials will reportedly not be present at the San Francisco game this weekend, a raft of federal, state and local agencies will be on site to keep the event safe from various threats.
Artificial Intelligence
Law enforcement is the leading DHS use case for AI
Subagencies like ICE and CBP are leveraging biometric technologies like facial recognition extensively, per the new case inventory.
Emerging Tech
DHS launches office for drone and counter-drone technologies
The agency said the new office is already in the process of finalizing a $115 million investment in counter-drone tech that will be used to help secure the FIFA World Cup and activities celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary.
People
Senate confirms Ethan Klein to be fifth US CTO
In a sweeping nominee package, Klein was confirmed alongside Kirsten Davies to be DOD CIO and Pedro Allende to be DHS Undersecretary for Science and Technology.
Cybersecurity
Cyber takes back seat to immigration in global threats hearing
Witnesses briefly touched on concerns about encrypted messaging and the threat China poses in cyberspace, as well as efforts to protect infrastructure that supports the worldwide internet.
Policy
Congress weighed measure to curtail scope of DHS intelligence office
A provision, ultimately left out of the Intelligence Authorization Act, would have removed commonplace collection and analysis authorities granted to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, rendering much of the office’s functions inert.
Digital Government
DHS expanding citizenship system for voter verification, despite concerns about potential disenfranchisement
Twenty-six states are in line to use a revamped DHS system to check their voter rolls for non-citizens, although the network has raised concerns about privacy and accuracy — including if it could kick eligible voters off the rolls.
Policy
DHS proposes biometrics expansion for immigrants, dropping age restrictions and requiring biometrics from some US citizens
A new DHS regulatory proposal would allow CBP and ICE to collect biometrics from children under the age of 14.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
House Democrats want answers on CISA reassignments to border security, immigration roles
A letter led by Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., argues DHS violated the Antideficiency Act when it conducted a reduction in force during the government shutdown.
People
Hundreds of DHS staff face reassignments to border security, immigration
Affected workers — including people in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — have been given a week to respond or risk termination from federal service.
People
DHS intelligence office sent deferred resignation offers to shed staff in recent months
The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis is working to incrementally reduce the size of its workforce, following plans for mass cuts that faced severe pushback from stakeholders over the summer.
Cybersecurity
DHS impacted in hack of Microsoft SharePoint products, people familiar say
The zero-day vulnerability — which was first disclosed late Saturday — has been exploited by several Chinese state-aligned groups, according to Microsoft.
People
Private letter warned cuts to DHS intel office would ‘create dangerous intelligence gaps’
The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts said in a previously unreported missive that staffing cuts that were initially planned for DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis would “undermine” and “degrade” various intelligence-sharing functions.
People
DHS intelligence office halts staff cuts after stakeholder backlash
Pushback from law enforcement associations and Jewish orgs came after Nextgov/FCW first reported plans to shed most staff within a core DHS intelligence unit.
People
Trump admin faces multi-front pushback on reported plans to cut most of DHS intel bureau
Jewish community and law enforcement organizations have asked the Trump administration’s top security chiefs to preserve the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis after Nextgov/FCW reported its plans to severely reduce its workforce.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
DHS plans to shed most of its intel office workforce
The Office of Intelligence and Analysis plans to reduce hundreds of its staff, per people with knowledge of recent plans communicated to employees. It’s faced scrutiny over past domestic surveillance abuses.
Cybersecurity
Senators urge DHS to reinstate disbanded cyber review board
The board — which was dismissed at the start of the Trump administration — has been viewed as a well-intentioned but imperfect tool for reviewing significant cybersecurity events.
Cybersecurity
DHS head says she’s alarmed CISA doesn't know more about Salt Typhoon hacks
“The thing that has alarmed me the most about CISA is the lack of information that they have, the lack of solutions that they have, and how they protect our critical infrastructure,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told members of the House Homeland Security Committee.
People
Homeland Security CTO announces departure
David Larrimore, the agency’s chief technology officer and chief AI officer, said that April 25 was his last official day with the department.
Cybersecurity