National Security News

The Daily Signal provides reports on national and homeland security issues, including military readiness, intelligence operations, border protection, and global conflicts. Featuring news, analysis, and commentary, this section explores how security policy decisions affect America’s national defense and freedom.
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  • opinion

    Lawmakers Had 10 Months to Fix Broken Transportation Funding. They Didn’t Do Anything.
    Another day, another punt on important policy matters by members of Congress. Faced with a May 31st deadline, lawmakers’ latest “fix” for highway funding—a two-month extension of current policy—comes after members had given themselves ten months to devise a long-term solution. To almost no one’s surprise, the ten months flew by without a whisper of…
    Michael Sargent
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  • news

    Should the NSA ‘Spying’ Program Be Illegal? What 2016 Contenders Say.
    Should the U.S. government continue to capture and hold massive amounts of telephone and Internet data as a way to thwart possible terrorists? Or should it be harder for government officials to detect patterns in who suspects communicate with? That decision may be a worthy of a president, but only five of nearly 20 candidates…
    Ken McIntyre
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  • news

    Jeb Hensarling: Boeing’s Threat to Move American Jobs Overseas If Ex-Im Bank Ends Is ‘A Bit of Bluster’
    Following reports that one of the Export-Import Bank’s biggest beneficiaries would move overseas if the agency’s charter expired, the leader of the House Financial Services Committee today spoke out against the claims, calling them a “bit of bluster.” Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the Export-Import Bank today, House Financial Services Chairman Jeb…
    Melissa Quinn
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  • opinion

    Cartoon: Washington’s Transportation Spending
    Heritage's Michael Sargent wrote about the Highway Transit Fund earlier this week: Transportation funding could hit a dead-end at the end of the month. On May 31, the Highway Trust Fund’s authorization to pay for the nation’s highway and mass transit projects will expire. Even worse, the fund is running a $13 billion cash flow…
    Glenn Foden
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  • opinion

    Ignore Politicians Saying Amtrak Crash Is Proof More Funding Is Needed. We First Need to Know More.
    On Tuesday night, an Amtrak train travelling on the Northeast Corridor crashed near Philadelphia, killing at least seven and injuring over 200 others. The tragic derailment occurred on Amtrak’s most-travelled line. Our prayers are with the passengers and their families, as well as the rescue team that was dispatched to the scene. It is still unknown…
    Michael Sargent
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  • opinion

    How Faulty Government Forecasts Make Social Security Look More Secure Than It Is
    Lawmakers rely on projections from federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to assess the current path of the federal budget and how alternative policies could affect that path. That is why a recent study showing the Social Security actuaries have consistently overstated Social…
    Rachel Greszler | Romina Boccia
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  • news

    ‘Wasted Seat’: Chamber of Commerce Official Takes to Twitter to Rip GOP Congressman on Ex-Im Bank Stance
    The intensifying debate over the Export-Import Bank’s future spilled over to Twitter yesterday after a top official with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took to the social media site to criticize Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., for his opposition to the contested agency. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of the bank’s most vocal supporters,…
    Melissa Quinn
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  • opinion

    How to Make It Easier for the Pentagon to Buy Weapons
    House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, has done something well-nigh unthinkable on Capitol Hill: He has filed a bill to cut red tape. Thornberry’s goal is to make the military’s acquisition process more efficient, but his approach—while intuitive for most people—goes against the grain of “normal” congressional problem solving, which typically tries to increase efficiency…
    Brian Slattery
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  • opinion

    Hourly Compensation Has Grown By 69% Since 1972
    Have average wages for American workers grown since 1972? Absolutely—and only a reliance on measures with well-documented flaws can show otherwise. First, look around you: Americans at all income levels own more cars, have more air-conditioned homes, travel more, are more likely to attend college, and live longer than they did in the 1970s. Reliable…
    Salim Furth
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  • opinion

    UK Election Results: A Conservative Surge and a Defeat for Socialism
    Greatly exceeding expectations, the Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, surged in yesterday’s United Kingdom General Election, winning 330 parliamentary seats, enough to form a majority in the House of Commons. The socialist Labour Party won just 232 seats, and the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed, securing just 8 seats. The Scottish National Party…
    Nile Gardiner
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  • opinion

    National Defense Authorizations: Useful Steps on Nuclear Policy
    Last week, the House Armed Services Committee took a first step in ensuring that the government provides for the common defense and passed the fiscal year (FY) 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill now has to pass the full House, the Senate, and the President has to sign it. Managing a relationship with…
    Michaela Dodge
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  • news

    Your Federal Gas Taxes Pay for This Program. Congress Will Decide Its Financial Future.
    Every time you fill your car with gas, a portion of what you pay at the pump goes to a federal program called the Highway Trust Fund. Soon Congress will consider the fund’s financial future — and there are big implications for transportation spending hanging in the balance. Since 2008, the Highway Trust Fund has…
    Alex Anderson
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  • opinion

    Is It the Role of a Federal Agency to Try to Hike Number of Women Politicians?
    One of the biggest problems in Washington is the overreach of federal agencies, many of which go far beyond their limited mandates. Instead of simply carrying out the duties assigned to them under federal laws, they invade the province of Congress, which is supposed to hold hearings, formulate public policy, and create the federal laws…
    Hans von Spakovsky
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  • opinion

    How the Next President Can Improve Politician-Military Relations
    Relations among political leaders, civilian agencies and the military blow hot and cold. At this point, things are rather chilly. For more effective coordination between civilians and soldiers, the next occupant of the Oval Office will need to instill a better leadership style, review the command at the Pentagon, and renew the ethical foundation of…
    James Carafano
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  • opinion

    How the Iran Deal Could Dangerously Undermine Our National Security
    The emerging nuclear deal with Iran has numerous flaws that could dangerously undermine U.S. national security. It lets Iran maintain a huge nuclear infrastructure that already far exceeds legitimate civilian needs. That includes illicit nuclear facilities, built in violation of Iran’s nuclear nonproliferation commitments. Particularly worrisome are provisions allowing Tehran to continue using uranium enrichment…
    James Phillips
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  • news

    Marco Rubio Talks Tough on Border Security: ‘No Right to Illegally Immigrate’
    Sen. Marco Rubio, ceding no ground to other Republican presidential candidates on tough immigration reforms, this morning said he has “a problem” with interest groups that claim illegal immigrants have a right to stay in America and become citizens. It’s one thing to appeal to the nation’s future or even morality, the Florida Republican said,…
    Ken McIntyre
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  • opinion

    What Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Said About World War II, U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation
    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hit the ball out of the park during his trip to America, but stumbled while rounding third base. Whether one highlights the success or shortcoming reflects the assessor’s focus either on the present or on Japan’s past. While most attention was focused on Abe’s historic speech to a joint meeting…
    Bruce Klingner
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  • opinion

    How the Midwest Is Scaling Back Big Labor’s Special Privileges
    Labor unions have traditionally been the 800-pound gorilla of special interest groups. They have secured handouts and subsidies that other organizations’ lobbyists could only dream about. But that may be changing. This year a raft of Midwestern states have scaled back some of organized labor’s special privileges. States are starting to treat unions no differently…
    James Sherk
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  • opinion

    House Intelligence Cyber Bill: Amendment Improves Cybersecurity
    Today, the House will vote on the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (PCNA) and various amendments to it. With the ongoing threat of cyber attacks from persistent adversaries, individuals and foreign government entities alike, this bill is designed to mitigate threats, reduce vulnerabilities, and protect the nation’s information systems. The House Intelligence Committee’s PCNA is innovative…
    David Inserra | Jennifer Guthrie
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  • news

    How Your Airplane’s Wi-Fi Network Could Pose a Security Risk
    Modern, Internet-enabled aircraft may be susceptible to hacking, according to a new government report. “Modern aircraft are increasingly connected to the Internet,” warns the Government Accountability Office report. “This interconnectedness can potentially provide unauthorized remote access to aircraft avionics systems.” Much like your own computer, if a plane’s Internet-connected safety systems aren’t protected by firewalls,…
    Kate Scanlon
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