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

In Today's Complex World, 'We Have No Idea What War Is'

Rosa Brooks discusses her tenure at the Pentagon, and the ever-expanding role of the American military.

Science & Tech

Maybe the Secret Service Should Start Protecting Candidates’ Email As Well

Some private cyber investigators say it’s time the agency expand its reach beyond mere physical security.

Science & Tech

America’s Network of Secret Bomb Detectors Could Be Growing

Can a mysterious device help the government protect Northern Virginia from a nuclear attack?

Science & Tech

OPM Updates Data Breach Information Website

The Office of Personnel Management has updated its website on the historic 2015 background check cybersecurity breach to make it easier for those affected to access information about the incident.

Ideas

And the War Came: A Call for Unity—Not to Arms—in My Hometown Orlando

A Pentagon reporter raised in Orlando returned to measure the distance from the battlefield to the homefront, and found something unexpected.

Threats

The Orlando Shooting Is the Deadliest In US History

Around 50 people were killed and at least 53 wounded Sunday when a gunman opened fire in a popular gay nightclub in downtown Orlando.

Science & Tech

US Homeland Security Could Get Its Own Cyber Defense Agency

A panel of House lawmakers want to turn the existing National Protection and Programs Directorate into the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency.

Ideas

No More Cyber Maginot Lines: We Need to Hunt Down Hackers Before They Strike

This is the next frontier of cybersecurity.

Science & Tech

Federal Background Checks Will Soon Involve Your Life on Facebook

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper signed a policy Thursday allowing investigators to scan public social media posts when deciding whether to issue a security clearance.

Business

As Threat of Russian Missiles Rise, NORAD Looks to the Future

No longer a Cold War leftover, NORAD and its new leaders will have their work cut out for them.

Ideas

Why Is the US Military Short-Staffing Its Sickest Children?

The military health-care system serves 2 million children with just a handful of full-time pediatric social workers. In the civilian world, this kind of staffing is 'unimaginable.'

Threats

After ISIS, Americans Fear Cyberattacks Most

Nearly three in four people consider them a major threat to the U.S., but presidential candidates have largely ignored the issue.

Science & Tech

What’s Your ‘Insider Threat Score?’ It Could Determine If You Keep Your Clearance

The new National Background Investigation Bureau thinks screening people with classified access can determine their likelihood of going rogue.

Science & Tech

The Supreme Court Just Expanded the FBI's Hacking Powers

The new changes will go into effect in December unless Congress votes to override them, which doesn't appear likely.

Threats

The NSA Has No Idea How Many Americans It’s Spying On

Lawmakers, who are being asked to approve FBI access to wiretapped data, want some basic answers first.

Science & Tech

The Obama Administration Is Struggling to Reform the Security Clearance Process

OPM, ODNI and other agencies are failing to meet their own deadlines on a wide array of measures aimed at sniffing out internal threats.