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

    Why Is China Building Artificial Islands?
    Check this: In a brazen move, the People’s Republic of China is now building “islands” in the South China Sea to bolster its position against several other East Asian countries—and the United States. Yes, I said “building.” China is actually dredging sand and piling it up on existing reefs to create new islands that, according…
    Peter Brookes
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  • news

    Congressman: ‘Disturbing’ for Military Chaplains to Be Punished Over Views on Sexuality
    While the nation debates whether Christian business owners should be forced by the government to cater same-sex marriages, the military is embroiled in its own dispute over religious freedom. In two high-profile cases, military chaplains have been punished for citing their religious beliefs during private counseling sessions and other official events, sparking questions about what…
    Kelsey Bolar
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  • opinion

    Can the Next President Deliver Better Defense?
    There are more than a few signals indicating President Obama has been a poor steward of the nation’s defense. “Continuing to slash defense invites greater danger to national security while shamefully asking the country’s military men and women to do their jobs with shrinking resources,” wrote the chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Service…
    Matthew Rolfes
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  • opinion

    The Palestinians Have Officially Joined the International Criminal Court. What the US Should Do.
    The International Criminal Court, the first permanent international court established to try and punish individuals committing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, now counts the Palestinians among its members. Earlier this year, the Palestinian Authority announced their intent to accede to the Statute of the International Criminal Court and officially…
    Brett Schaefer | James Phillips | Steven Groves
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  • opinion

    Homeland Security Official Used His Office to Give Visas to High-Ranking Politicians
    Alejandro Mayorkas, a deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, gave favorable treatment to high-ranking political officials in helping them secure special EB-5 visas, according to the department’s inspector general. According to the inspector general, Mayorkas “exerted improper influence in the normal processing and adjudication of EB-5 immigration program benefits.” The inspector general found…
    David Inserra
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  • news

    Scott Walker Lands Former Senator as National Security Expert for 2016 Race
    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has added one of Washington’s leading advocates of military readiness to the ranks of advisers helping prepare him for a likely campaign for president. Jim Talent, who represented Missouri in both the House and Senate before becoming a fellow at The Heritage Foundation, confirmed Thursday that he has joined Walker’s budding…
    Ken McIntyre
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  • opinion

    Physician-Assisted Suicide Sends Message Some People Are Better Off Dead. That’s a Lie.
    Last night, Dr. Ryan T. Anderson, the William E. Simon fellow at The Heritage Foundation, was on “EWTN News Nightly” to discuss his new report, “Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality.” During the interview, Anderson explained the many policy problems…
    Daily Signal Staff
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  • news

    Republicans to Government Official: Why Has No One Been Fired Over Choke Point?
    The head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) told members of Congress Tuesday that part of the agency’s involvement in Operation Choke Point was a “mistake.” “Clearly there was misunderstanding with regards to the list, which was a mistake on our part,” Martin Gruenberg, chairman of the FDIC, said of the agency’s decision to…
    Kelsey Bolar
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  • opinion

    It’s Not Compassionate: Four Policy Problems With Physician-Assisted Suicide
    In recent months, heartbreaking stories of Americans such as Brittany Maynard struggling with devastating diagnoses have captured our empathy—and launched a national conversation about physician-assisted suicide. In response, activists are using these stories to advance legislation that has otherwise been rejected by the people. At least 18 states across the country are considering whether to…
    Ryan T. Anderson
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  • opinion

    How Serious Is ISIS Threat Against Military Families?
    Our military and their families carry a heavy burden on behalf of all of us. That makes the threat against them by a shadowy outfit claiming affiliation with ISIS particularly heinous. A group, calling itself the “Islamic State Hacking Division,” posted the names, home addresses and photos of one hundred American service members and called…
    James Carafano
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  • opinion

    Military Exercises Do Not Violate Posse Comitatus Act
    Recent reports that several of the U.S. military’s various Special Operations elements may be participating in exercises in areas that are not on existing military facilities have raised concerns. These are fortunately unfounded. The military in general, and Special Operations in particular, have conducted exercises in civilian areas for decades. To be clear, even if…
    Steven Bucci
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  • news

    Conservative Lawmaker Seeks Answers From the VA on Misleading Statements
    Earlier this week, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing in order to try and answer lingering questions about mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs. During the hearing, Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., questioned General Counsel Leigh Bradley about multiple misstatements made by leading VA officials. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said…
    Kate Scanlon
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  • opinion

    Experts Are Unanimous: Visa Waiver Program Is Good for National Security
    During Tuesday’s House Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security hearing, experts agreed that the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is beneficial both for the economy and national security. Due to continued concern over the threat of foreign fighters returning home to stage attacks on the U.S. and allied countries’ homeland, the effectiveness of the Visa Waiver…
    Riley Walters
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  • opinion

    Further Defense Cuts Will Harm National Security
    On February 11, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing with four think tanks to explore possible alternatives for the fiscal year (FY) 2016 congressional budget. Although different views abounded, all agreed on one thing: The sequestered discretionary caps instituted by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) severely damage national security. As Congress…
    Mark Febrizio
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  • opinion

    Obama Administration Wants New Regulations for Your Financial Adviser
    Last week the Obama administration announced it would move ahead with a new Department of Labor rule designed to provide uniform fiduciary rules for anyone providing retirement investment advice. In general, a fiduciary standard requires financial advisers to put their individual client’s interests above their own. Sounds simple enough. But the new rule could impose…
    Norbert Michel
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  • news

    High-Ranking Federal Officials’ History of Using Personal Email for Government Business
    High-level federal executives routinely use personal email for business, in likely violation of the Federal Records Act. That’s according to a recent survey of federal employees. The survey was conducted by the research group Government Business Council just prior to revelations that Hillary Clinton allegedly exclusively used personal email and a private server at her…
    Sharyl Attkisson
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  • opinion

    The World Is Becoming More Dangerous. So Why Are We Letting Our Military Power Decline?
    The world seems to be becoming more dangerous these days. Not so coincidentally, America’s military power continues to decline rapidly. Before considering how and why, here’s a snapshot of what’s happening around the globe: Russia has annexed Crimea, is dismembering Ukraine, is probing the defenses of Northern Europe, and is again casting a covetous eye…
    Dakota Wood
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  • opinion

    Labrador on Homeland Security Funding: ‘We Lost Because’ Democrats, White House ‘Outsmarted Ineffective GOP Leadership’
    On Tuesday, 75 Republicans pressured by our leadership and a weak-kneed Senate joined 182 Democrats in abandoning a provision blocking President Obama’s executive actions on immigration in the Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security spending bill. Without a doubt, Congress ceded its constitutional authority when it gave up the fight to ensure the president faithfully executes the…
    Raul Labrador
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  • news

    ‘A Strategy Doomed to Failure’: Conservatives Fault GOP Leadership After Homeland Security Funding Fight
    Days after President Obama delivered his Nov. 20 speech outlining executive actions on immigration, conservatives pressed Republican leaders to wage a fight while the issue was fresh on the minds of voters. “From the onset, we really believed it was a poor strategy,” says @RepMattSalmon Republicans had just made historic electoral gains in the House…
    Robert B. Bluey
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  • opinion

    Is Our Military Ready?
    Most of us take it on faith that our military is the best in the world. But if asked to state in detail how ready we are to face certain challenges from around the globe, few of us would know how to answer. How prepared is each branch—Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines—to handle its…
    Ed Feulner
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