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

    Podcast: New Fight Brewing Over DACA and Border Security, and Oprah 2020?
    With government spending soon to run out, some lawmakers want to attach a Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals “fix” to must-pass legislation. Heritage legal expert Hans von Spakovsky discusses why such a move would ignore the lessons of history. We also hear from Hans about why a promising voter fraud commission was suddenly shut down…
    Katrina Trinko | Daniel Davis
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  • opinion

    ‘Internet of Things’ Devices Have Their Security Risks. How Regulators Should Address Them.
    Most Americans own some sort of “smart” device, whether it’s a smartphone, a smart thermostat, or a smart fitness tracker. These devices are benefiting Americans in countless ways, from helping them become more energy-efficient, to saving money and even tracking their health. But many of these devices can also pose a security risk to unsuspecting consumers….
    Riley Walters
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  • news

    California Is Officially a Sanctuary State
    A sweeping immigration law took effect Monday in California, officially making it the country’s largest sanctuary state. The controversial law, SB 54, passed the state Legislature in September and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown the following month. It prevents police in California, which has by far the nation’s largest illegal immigrant…
    Will Racke
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  • news

    Special Counsel and Russia Probe Seen Likely to Carry On
    Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and possible collusion with President Donald Trump’s campaign, could fracture in multiple directions during 2018 and take its toll on both men. “There is no upside for firing Mueller. He has not laid a glove on Trump,” @AndrewCMcCarthy says. For Trump, a prolonged…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    Pentagon’s Decision to Keep Cluster Bombs Preserves Military Readiness, Lethality
    The Pentagon drew sharp but unwarranted criticism earlier this month following its decision to indefinitely delay compliance with a ban on certain kinds of legacy cluster bombs. Cluster bombs remain an important tool in the arsenal for U.S. forces, as they are effective at targeting light armor, massed infantry, and parked aircraft. We should not…
    Thomas Wilson | James Di Pane
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  • opinion

    Opioids: The Crisis of Our Lifetime
    Eric Hargan is about to get a demotion, and he is just fine with that. The acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is more than thrilled to go back to the position he originally held. President Donald Trump tapped him to lead the agency after Tom Price resigned when scrutiny of…
    Salena Zito
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  • opinion

    The New York Times Left Socialism’s Role Out of Its Report on Venezuela’s Devastation
    Kudos to The New York Times—yes, The New York Times—for running an excellent, detailed story on the mass starvation and economic catastrophe taking place in Venezuela. As the Times notes, Venezuela has the largest known oil reserves in the world, yet is going through a starvation crisis exacerbated and hidden by its own government. Common…
    Jarrett Stepman
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  • opinion

    House ‘Cromnibus’ Rightly Boosts Defense Spending, but Fails Test of Fiscal Responsibility
    The House of Representatives is expected this week to debate H.R. 1370, which would fund national defense through the remainder of fiscal year 2018 and extend funding for all other discretionary programs until Jan. 19 via a continuing resolution. It would also provide funding extensions to several mandatory programs and potentially add more supplemental funding…
    Justin Bogie
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  • opinion

    5 Ways Energy Dominance Can Bolster Trump’s National Security Strategy
    The Trump administration’s new national security strategy emphasizes the importance of a strong economy to enhance national security. “America’s central position in the global energy system as a leading producer, consumer, and innovator,” the report says, “ensures that markets are free and U.S. infrastructure is resilient and secure.” As a global energy leader already, the…
    Nicolas Loris
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  • news

    Trump Calls Out Russia, China in National Security Address
    President Donald Trump presented his national security strategy as what he called a reassertion of fundamental truths and “principled realism.” “Any nation that trades away its prosperity for security will end up losing both,” @POTUS says. “A nation without borders is not a nation. A nation that does not protect prosperity at home cannot protect…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    4 Red Flags About Trade in Trump’s National Security Strategy
    President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy is a significant and positive break with the recent past on many political and security issues. It is also relatively and appropriately conventional on some other matters—like the importance of alliances and American engagement in the world. But the area of international trade, the strategy, which presidents are…
    Walter Lohman
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  • opinion

    Podcast: The Big Differences Between Obama and Trump’s National Security Strategies
    The Heritage Foundation’s Nile Gardiner joins us to discuss why President Donald Trump’s national security strategy, released today, matters—and how it differs in its treatment of Islamist terrorism from President Barack Obama’s strategy. We also discuss the long-ranging cultural implications of the tax bill, and why Chick-fil-A is once again the hero.
    Katrina Trinko | Jarrett Stepman
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  • opinion

    Trump’s National Security Strategy Boldly Reasserts American Leadership
    In the Obama White House, the mantra of “leading from behind” was so deeply embedded that America’s allies were often left confused and disoriented when it came to U.S. foreign policy. President Barack Obama’s 2015 national security strategy was a curious mishmash of lofty idealism and outreach to dictatorial regimes such as Iran and Cuba,…
    Nile Gardiner
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  • news

    Arrests of MS-13 Members, Associates Up 83% Under Trump
    President Donald Trump called Friday for reforming and strictly enforcing immigration law, in light of the failed terror attack in New York and increased crime across the country committed by violent gangs. Trump said he has directed federal law enforcement to work with local police to “destroy criminal cartels, like the savages of MS-13,” and…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    Rebuilding the Military Comes With a Price Tag. But the Price of Waiting Is Higher.
    The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will cost an additional $295 billion over the next four years to execute President Donald Trump’s plans to rebuild the military. Its calculation was done by comparing the current Budget Control Act defense caps with the Trump budget outline. Those budget caps, established in 2011, limit how much…
    Frederico Bartels
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  • opinion

    With More Investment, Our Missile Defense System Could Be Truly Dependable
    Thirty-three minutes. That’s all the time we’d have to respond to an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile from anywhere in the world. Roughly half an hour to avert disaster—if we’re lucky. Sure, that isn’t the most cheerful thought to entertain, especially at Christmas time. But with all the saber-rattling coming from North Korea these days, not…
    Ed Feulner
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  • opinion

    Our Special Operations Forces Are Stretched Too Far
    America is rightly proud of the incredibly capable and effective special operations forces that serve as the literal point of our military spear. The Army Rangers, Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Navy SEALs, Special Operations Aviation, and other elements are the best in the world. No mission is too tough for these spectacular men and…
    Steven Bucci
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  • opinion

    Contra Activist Judges, It’s Not Discriminatory to Prohibit Transgender Individuals From Joining Military
    On Dec. 11, a federal lower court judge in Washington, D.C., refused to stay her earlier Oct. 30 order blocking President Donald Trump’s Aug. 25 directive regarding transgender military service. That directive, transmitted to the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, put to a halt the Obama administration’s June 2016 plan to allow transgender individuals…
    Alden Abbott
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  • opinion

    How Licensing Laws Protect Special Interests at the Expense of Everyone Else
    New data compiled by the Institute for Justice shows just how far states have overreached in regulating professions. The report, “License to Work,” shows that 1 in 4 jobs are now restricted by licensing requirements, and that these onerous rules generally do nothing to improve service or protect people. Licensing requirements began as a way…
    Timothy Kilcullen | Salim Furth
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  • opinion

    Senate Should Follow House’s Lead in Nixing Special-Interest Loopholes
    President Donald Trump is right. Washington is a swamp, infested with special-interest groups feverishly working to keep their place in the capital bog. Our current tax code is the leading example of institutionalized privilege—bought and paid for by lobbyists. The tax code is riddled with privileges—special deductions for manufacturing, credits for everything from research to…
    Adam Michel
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