On April 11, 2024, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a multi-agency committee administered by the U.S. Treasury Department, released a proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) to amend the CFIUS regulations.[1] The Proposed Rule seeks “to enhance the Committee’s identification and resolution of national security risks” by expanding the scope of information … Continue Reading
According to reports originally from Bloomberg News, President Joe Biden is preparing to issue an executive order (EO) aimed at prohibiting US adversaries from accessing US personal data. While the draft is subject to change, the draft EO reportedly targets “highly sensitive” data, including genetic and location information, and would bar foreign adversaries from obtaining … Continue Reading
On December 4, 2020, senior members of our Public Policy Practice joined the Meridian International Center for an Insights@Meridian discussion before an audience comprised of multinational corporations and the diplomatic community.… Continue Reading
In partnership with the US-UAE Business Council (Business Council) and its 2020 “Back to Business” webinar series, our Public Policy colleagues, including former elected and appointed US government officials, joined Danny E. Seabright, President of the Business Council to share their outlook on domestic and foreign policy priorities of the incoming Biden Administration, and their … Continue Reading
Both major change and desired continuity can be expected. Beginning with perhaps the most historically significant change we expect to see in President-elect Biden’s defense and national security organizations, we believe that the Nation will see the first female serving as the Secretary of Defense.… Continue Reading
During a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD-A&S) Ellen Lord announced Department of Defense’s (DoD) latest efforts to overhaul how it intends to procure weapons, goods and services—with an emphasis on speed from design to fielding and on cutting operations and maintenance costs. Additionally, on August … Continue Reading
Recently, transatlantic attention has focused on Belarus after irregularities were noted with its presidential election on 9 August that resulted in protests in that nation. Meanwhile, talks between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) also resumed this week, continuing to seek a path forward for the UK’s future trade arrangements with the … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* *The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change. 9:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY participate in a signing of a Proclamation on the … Continue Reading
The US Congress has returned to Washington, DC, and bipartisan negotiations to produce the next significant federal coronavirus response legislation have officially begun. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, representing President Donald Trump, are scheduled to meet this afternoon on Capitol Hill with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and … Continue Reading
After months on hold responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 US elections are heating up, as Democrats seek to take control of the White House from President Donald Trump. On Thursday, July 9, former Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden released a broad economic plan during a speech in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. … Continue Reading
American officials continue to raise concerns with China’s perceived long-term goals, which they believe may undermine multilateral institutions, national security and sovereign interests, and democratic principles in general. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing concerns with China, and it may serve as the catalyst for further transatlantic cooperation aimed at responding to some of China’s … Continue Reading
America and European countries remain focused on securing a COVID-19 vaccine to prevent resurgences of the virus, with the European Commission unveiling a strategy this week to accelerate its coordinated efforts. At a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministerial this week, partners focused on COVID-19 and other topics, including the US’ announcement to lower … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 3:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT participates in a roundtable with Governors on the reopening of America’s small businesses | State Dining Room VPOTUS’ Schedule* 10:00 a.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT departs … Continue Reading
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, gives the president – acting on the recommendation of the Secretary of Commerce – the authority to take actions to adjust imports of goods found to be imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Senate Information Sharing Legislation Last week, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) issued a statement noting their progress on a draft cybersecurity information sharing bill that they have been working on since last year. In the statement, they noted that they have reached an agreement … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity U.S. Department of Defense Network Breach Reporting Regulations The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is expected to release draft regulations this summer that would require defense contractors to report network and information system penetrations within a specified amount of time. As part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, DOD was … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Renewed Call for Improved Airport Perimeter Security After a 15-year-old California boy survived a five-and-a-half hour stowaway trip last week, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resubmitted a request sent in February by some of his fellow House Homeland Security Committee members to the Government Accountability Office to perform a review of airport perimeter security … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation At a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing last week, Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-OK) announced that the committee is working on legislation that will give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to hire more cybersecurity professionals. Ranking Member Coburn stated that the committee will … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity DHS Names Acting ICE Leader Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson has announced that Deputy Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Thomas Winkowski – who most recently served as acting director of CBP – will become the acting principal deputy assistant director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where he will … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Upcoming Hearings: Tuesday, March 11: The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Navy Vice Admiral Michael S. Rogers to be Admiral and Director of the National Security Agency, Chief of the Central Security Services, and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. In addition, the Committee will … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity OMB Releases DHS FY 2015 Budget Request On March 5, the Office of Management and Budget released President Barack Obama’s FY 2015 Budget Request, which recommends $38.2 billion in funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), approximately $1 billion less overall than the level of funding appropriated to the agency under … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Upcoming Hearings: Tuesday, March 4: The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology and Subcommittee on Oversight will host a joint hearing titled “Can Technology Protect Americans from International Cybercriminals?” Dr. Charles Romine, Director of the Information Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will be a … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity DHS Secretary Johnson Sets Agency Priorities On February 26, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee to discuss DHS operations and his priorities for the agency. In response to concerns from privacy-minded lawmakers, he stated that he might scale back loans of Customs and Border … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Upcoming Hearings: Tuesday, February 25: The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “Reauthorizing TRIA (Terrorism Risk Insurance Act): The State of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Market, Part II.” Thursday, February 27: The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine the U.S. Strategic Command and … Continue Reading
