Policy
Trump Wants DHS to Hire 15,000 for Border Security? Not So Fast
The proposed surge would provide assets some agency officials have long requested. It would also enable Trump to fulfill a campaign promise—but it comes with challenges.
Policy
Trump Has Made an Enemy Out of a Friend
The U.S. is not talking to Mexico, a neighbor, trade partner and trusted ally because of a campaign promise few took seriously.
Policy
Trump Orders Halt to ‘Catch and Release,’ But There’s a Catch
Ending the practice of releasing illegal border crossers before they can be deported is easier said than done.
Science & Tech
Border Officers: Real Security is More Complicated Than Building a Wall
Trump’s order notwithstanding, it would take years and new technology to truly close the border.
Policy
Why Is Obama Expanding Surveillance Powers Right Before He Leaves Office?
It could be to prevent Trump from extending them even more.
Ideas
ISIS in the Caribbean
The spread of Salafi Islam and a government’s blind eye toward recruiting has helped lead more Trinidadians to fight for ISIS than any other country in the Western hemisphere.
Policy
What You Don’t Know About Gen. John Kelly
The four-star boy from Boston brings to DHS the grief of losing friends to America’s drug epidemic and a son to the war on terrorism.
Threats
The US Is Losing at Influence Warfare. Here’s Why
Lawmakers and leaders want to fight foreign influence operations, but they aren’t asking the right questions.
Threats
Trump Promises to Ask the Pentagon for a Plan to Defend the Country from Cyber Attacks
The president-elect included the plan in a list of 'executive actions we can take on day one to restore our laws and bring back our jobs.'
Ideas
Transnational Criminals Move at Network Speed. At SOUTHCOM, We’re Learning to Do the Same
But this sea change must be matched by U.S. and foreign partners, writes the leader of U.S. Southern Command.
Threats
DHS Is Drawing Up 'Strategic Principles' for Internet of Things
The Homeland Security secretary is working with law enforcement and private companies to prevent massive distributed denial of service attacks.
Ideas
The True Costs of America's Credit-Card War on Terror
The bills will be coming for decades, in the form of debt-service interest, veterans’ medical expenses, and forgone opportunities.
Science & Tech
At Least One State Rejects Feds' Offer to Help Cybersecure Voting Machines
Some security experts say it wouldn't even take Russian government-backed hackers to manipulate actual votes in some of America's antiquated tallying systems.
Science & Tech
US Gets Serious about Portable Nuke-Detector Prototypes
Homeland Security spends $20M to develop devices to find bombs being transported in ships, on metro systems, or in public places.
Ideas
Why is America Still Saying 'Never Again' About Terrorism?
Despite an administration change and major shifts in national security, the federal government is still taking a maximalist approach to policy.
Ideas
Keeping America's Principles In the Age of Terrorism
Our security should be judged not only by the absence of major attacks but by America’s commitment to the Constitution.
Ideas
For US Politicians, Overcoming the Fear of Terrorism is Easier Done Than Said
We don’t resign ourselves to car accidents, learning from what went wrong and funneling those insights back into prevention.
Science & Tech
The $47 Billion U.S. Emergency Response Network That’s Already Obsolete
FirstNet was envisioned as a way for police and firefighters to communicate with one another in the wake of 9/11. But four years later, it’s still not up and running.
Ideas
15 Years After 9/11, Is America Any Safer?
The United States has spent $1 trillion to defend against al-Qaeda and ISIL, dirty bombs and lone wolves, bioterror and cyberterror. Has it worked?
Ideas