Homeland Security
DHS launches internal GenAI chatbot to leverage non-public data
Agency Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the tool, known as DHSChat, “will help men and women across DHS draft vital reports, summarize critical information, develop new software, streamline administrative tasks and much more.”
Legislation to promote better federal building security set to be signed into law
Multiple watchdogs have recently criticized the effectiveness of security at government facilities.
3 key findings on the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.
The congressional panel investigating assassination attempts on Donald Trump issued its final report this week.
DHS’s plans to fix problems with its hiring and training for the acquisition workforce might not work
The department knows its acquisition staff are overwhelmed with work and slowed down by long hiring processes, but the Government Accountability Office says DHS hasn’t reviewed whether its solutions are actually helping.
Despite critical report, Biden hasn’t taken disciplinary action against DHS watchdog
It’s been about two months since an oversight committee substantiated allegations that DHS inspector general Joseph Cuffari abused his authority, with no word of potential White House action.
Senators call for watchdog to investigate TSA’s use of facial recognition
In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General, 12 senators warned that the deployment of facial biometrics at every U.S. airport could create “one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.”
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DHS issues internal comms guidance amid telecom breach investigation
The DHS Cyber Safety Review Board is already slated to investigate the hacking collective, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and its intrusion into telecommunications firms and wiretap infrastructure.
DHS highlights hiring and project milestones on anniversary of Biden’s AI order
The agency said it has hired 31 technologists for its AI Corps and completed three pilot projects that have provided “valuable insights into the real-life impact of GenAI tools as well as their limitations.”
Secret Service needs to fix 'corrosive cultural attitudes' with its workforce to prevent a successful assassination, panel finds
The failures that led to a nearly successful assassination attempt on Trump run deeper than staffing shortfalls, the investigators found.
Federal personnel are facing threats during hurricane response, DHS chief warns
As misinformation swirls, posters online have vowed to send militias and 'shoot' federal workers responding to recent disasters.
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Officials describe rosy future for problem-plagued background check system overhaul
One interagency official said a long-awaited implementation strategy for the National Background Investigation Services system would be released this week.
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DHS IG committed ‘substantial misconduct,’ governmental watchdog finds
Whether Joseph Cuffari is removed or not is up to President Biden.
Senate report details widespread Secret Service failures in Trump assassination attempt
Lack of communication and leadership led to USSS errors, though the agency maintains no individual employees were to blame.
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Air Marshals say they are reaching a ‘breaking point’ amid brain drain and ‘punishing’ schedules
The federal law enforcement personnel say they need a fresh start in a new agency.
Secret Service acknowledges ‘failures’ in protection of Trump in Pennsylvania shooting
The acting director said an investigation revealed communication “deficiencies” between law enforcement personnel.
Task force probing Trump assassination attempt to expand to include Florida incident
“We have a responsibility here in Congress to get down to the bottom of this, to figure out why these things are happening and what we can do about it,” the House speaker said in a statement.
Trump’s second assassination attempt is shocking, but attempts on presidents’ lives are not rare in US history
There have been 45 men elected president since the country’s founding. And 40% of them have experienced known attempts on their lives.
CISA issues guide to help federal agencies set cybersecurity priorities
The guidance comes as federal civilian agencies are closing in on zero trust deadlines looming at the end of the current fiscal year.
Gunshots fired near Trump in Florida; campaign says former president is safe
Secret Service officials said “a protective incident” involving Trump occurred near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, two months after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
TSA proposes a softer rollout of Real ID enforcement
Federal agencies would have the option to gradually require the secure documents after May 7, in part to avoid chaos at state DMVs when the deadline approaches.
