Senators are demanding answers about the federal government's secretive hacking practices, and they're calling on the Government Accountability Office to shine a light on the scope, frequency, and safety measures behind these operations. They want to know how often and how extensively the government is using hacking and spyware to investigate Americans.
The fate of Trump's Missile Shield Plan, codenamed Golden Dome, hangs in the balance as lawmakers grapple with securing crucial funding, with the White House seeking $17.5 billion but only $400 million currently in the baseline budget.
At the heart of ASPI's 25-year journey is a bold experiment: championing contestability in national security policy by fostering open debate and diverse perspectives. This pioneering approach, seeded by Hugh White, has become the institute's DNA, driving stronger strategic policy through constructive disagreement and collaboration.
With over 1.7 million Freedom of Information Act requests pouring in during FY2025, federal agencies are facing unprecedented pressure to modernize their FOIA systems and ditch outdated infrastructure that's slowing them down. Legacy platforms are struggling to keep up with record request volumes, causing bottlenecks, duplication, and increased risk.
The US is putting NATO allies to the test with a questionnaire that probes their support for American policies, sparking concerns that it's an unnecessary stress test. Estonia's Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Marko Mihkelson is already speaking out against it, calling it an unwelcome way to handle the situation.
The US government is being urged to recognize the AI sector as critical infrastructure, a designation that would highlight its importance to the country's well-being and security. This call to action comes from a new report by Americans for Responsible Innovation, which argues that the AI sector already has all the hallmarks of a vital industry.
A bipartisan bill aimed at tackling organized retail theft has sparked fears of a massive surveillance network, with critics warning it could have far-reaching and alarming consequences. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would create a new coordination center within ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division.
The Pentagon is pushing for full transparency in contractors' pricing data, aiming to prevent profit margins from getting out of control and ensure fair contract negotiations. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has directed senior leaders to reset expectations for supplier cost and pricing information across all tiers of the supply chain.
Ransomware crews target small municipalities because nobody's watching. Nubivance gives Maine and New Hampshire towns a security program sized to a town budget.
Protect the town office
As South Asia charts its digital course, the choices it makes on vendors, standards, and data governance will have lasting impacts on regional resilience. New Delhi should prioritize digital transformation in its regional policy, partnering with Australia and like-minded nations to shape a secure and thriving digital future.
The Pentagon is stonewalling Congressional efforts to get a handle on the hefty price tag of the Golden Dome missile shield, with the Congressional Budget Office admitting they've been shut out from crucial briefings. It's a secrecy move that's fueling a growing public spat over the program's potentially eye-watering $1.2 trillion cost.
Peraton has landed a massive $953 million contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency to provide top-notch communications infrastructure services for up to 10 years. This deal is a major win, marking the third iteration of DISA's Capacity Services Communications program;
The US government's DNA database is expanding rapidly, with a 2025 goal to build a national DNA database for solving crimes that's sparking heated debate about genetic data collection and storage. This move links DNA samples from Homeland Security detainees to the FBI's crime-fighting database, CODIS.
The fight for federal paid leave is heating up - will workers gain a guaranteed 12 weeks off to care for themselves, loved ones, or support a family member recovering from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking? A bipartisan bill in the House and a Senate proposal are vying for support.
The National Security Science and Technology Strategy introduces cutting-edge safeguards to shield America's research and innovation edge from evolving threats, ensuring the country's economic and military strength remains unmatched. By embracing novel security solutions, experts can safeguard the nation's science and technology ecosystem.
Shasta County's voter registrar, Clint Curtis, plans to hire convicted election official Tina Peters as an assistant registrar, sparking concerns about her influence on local elections. This move has raised eyebrows, given Peters's history of promoting unfounded claims about election integrity.
With the new fiscal year looming, can Congress overcome its differences and strike a funding deal before it's too late? The clock is ticking down to a make-or-break moment for lawmakers returning from recess.
Full-platform Rapid7 rollouts - InsightVM, InsightIDR, event sources, agents, tuning - by a Registered Partner who has done it at state-agency scale, including OT/SCADA.
Talk deployment
China's 2017 policy roadmap for AI revealed a bold vision: harnessing state coordination and open-source collaboration to catapult the nation to the forefront of a technology that could reshape national security, geopolitics, and society. This blended approach combines strategic direction with market-driven innovation, setting the stage for seismic global implications.
The Army is shaking up its approach to intelligence gathering with a new guiding document that outlines key problems to be solved, and they're turning to industry for innovative solutions. This fresh "characteristics of need" approach is a deliberate departure from traditional requirement-driven methods, and a decision on its implementation is expected soon.
The US is stepping up its game in Southeast Asia, offering a no-frills security partnership that's all about mutual benefit, not ideological alignment. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby is pitching a pragmatic approach, promising support in areas like maritime security and intelligence in exchange for cooperation on shared interests.
L3Harris Technologies is taking swift action to uphold its values, announcing that CEO Chris Kubasik has stepped down amid an internal investigation into conduct that didn't align with the company's code of conduct. Sam Mehta, current president of space and mission systems, takes the reins as CEO, effective immediately.
In a sudden move, L3Harris has removed Chris Kubasik as CEO and chairman amid an investigation into conduct that violated the company's code of conduct, and Sam Mehta has stepped in to take the reins immediately. Sam Mehta, current head of L3Harris's space business, has been appointed President and CEO, with Lewis Hay taking over as chairman of the board.
The US Department of War is revolutionizing its approach to cyber warfare, recognizing that success in the digital domain is crucial to national security and modern warfare. Cyber capabilities can no longer be siloed, but must be seamlessly integrated into every mission to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Taiwan's recent release of intelligence archives has sparked a public reckoning, exposing reputational risks for hundreds of individuals, including serving and former officials, with far-reaching consequences. A sitting legislator has already withdrawn from a senior party election, and the controversy is reshaping public perception of intelligence officers.
The US Navy is exploring a game-changing strategy: building combat ships abroad, but experts warn that this approach is fraught with technical, logistical, and political hurdles. A senior policy researcher notes that the main challenge lies in the unknown territory of foreign shipbuilding for combat-type vessels.