Security News
The Daily Signal covers the latest threats, from cyber to national defense, and examines policies designed to protect American communities.
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The Dangers in Believing Economic Security Is National Security
The director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy at the White House, Peter Navarro, on Friday will give a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on economic security as a matter of national security. Navarro will attempt to pinpoint where economic activity, national security, and executive authorities overlap….Riley Walters -
Obese Americans Pose Growing Risk to National Security
A new study says a growing threat to national security doesn’t involve China, Russia, or the Middle East: It’s American obesity. Of the 7 out of 10 Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 already disqualified from serving in the military, the report found, 31 percent are disqualified because of obesity. This spells trouble…Tristan Justice -
We Hear You: Bad Apples at the IRS, State’s Security Breach Under Hillary, and Other Runaway Agencies
Editor's note: Poorly run government programs prompt many a comment from the audience of The Daily Signal. We've got some of those in this roundup. Be sure to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: The federal civil service system needs to be changed to make it less difficult to terminate employees for cause,…Ken McIntyre -
In Key Post at State, Kiron Skinner Will Advance Trump Security Strategy
The State Department is about to get a big brain. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo named scholar and national security expert Kiron Skinner on Thursday as director of policy planning, the official who heads the department’s in-house think tank. It’s a signal that Pompeo is moving back to regular order in how State does business,…Helle Dale -
Here’s How School Security Should Be Improved in 4 Easy Steps
Since publication of an earlier commentary on four steps to achieving better school security, many organizations have been in contact to offer excellent additional ways to reach this desired end state. Again, there is no simple solution. We cannot just ban guns, or hand them out willy-nilly, and expect our kids to be safe. America must…Steven Bucci -
Trump Targets Security Clearances of Brennan, Comey, Other Antagonists
President Donald Trump is considering revoking the security clearances of former top Obama administration national security officials who have made charges on Twitter and in the media about Russian collusion, as well as one former top Bush administration official. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday the president is “exploring” taking the security…Fred Lucas -
Lawmakers Suggest Lawsuit-Happy Environmentalists Help China, Hurt National Security
Environmental advocacy groups that take the Defense Department to court appear to operate as foreign agents working to help China and undermine the U.S. Navy and America’s military readiness in the Asia-Pacific region, congressional leaders suggest. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., chairman of…Kevin Mooney -
‘Deep Fake’ Technology Is a Threat to National Security, Politics, and the Media, Marco Rubio Says
Sen. Marco Rubio says so-called “deep fakes”—the ability to use artificial intelligence video tools to swap a person’s face on another person’s body, with little indication of manipulation—is a threat to national security. “One of the ironies of the 21st century is that technology has made it cheaper than ever to do that … ….Rachel del Guidice -
New Border State Congresswoman Urges Review of All US Ports of Entry for Security Threats
Coming from a border state, one of the newest members of Congress is making her presence felt in the immigration debate by introducing legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to review all ports of entry to the U.S. for possible security threats. Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., introduced a bill Tuesday that would…Jeremiah Poff -
To Strengthen Security and Improve Ties to Friendly Countries, US Should Expand Visa Waiver Program
With the 2018 NATO summit just weeks away, American policymakers are seeking ways to strengthen ties to good friends and allies while giving the U.S. some solid wins. Expanding the Visa Waiver Program is a great way to do that. The Visa Waiver Program is a win-win-win scenario in diplomacy, security, and trade. Citizens of…Georgia Cline -
The Threat to National Security That Hardly Anyone Is Watching
When I was elected in 2016, the national debt was nearing $20 trillion. The annual structural deficit—meaning how much more the federal government spends than it rakes in—approached $1 trillion. Now, the national debt exceeds $21 trillion. For many months, tax and regulatory reform has stimulated the economy, producing record federal revenue. Sadly, our deficits…Rep. Andy Biggs -
Pro-Amnesty Republicans Would Undermine Border Security and US Law
With some Republicans pushing for a vote on amnesty for those brought illegally to the U.S. as children, Congress should remember why such policies hurt, rather than help. In addition to giving short shrift to other needed immigration reforms and being unfair to both Americans and legal immigrants, the current immigration efforts will likely only…David Inserra -
To Vietnam, Freedom of Expression Is a ‘National Security Offense’
“In Vietnam, there is no such thing as a ‘prisoner of conscience,’ and there’s no such thing as people being arrested for ‘freely expressing opinion,’” Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters in April. The exact opposite is true. A recent report by Amnesty International listed 97 known prisoners of conscience in…Sang Hyuk Park -
Texas A&M Shuts Down 2 Chinese Learning Institutes Deemed National Security Threats
Tensions between the U.S. and China just reached two college campuses in Texas. On April 9, the Texas A&M University system announced its intention to close two Confucius Institutes located at its College Station and Prairie View campuses, respectively. The Chinese government-funded institutes offer language and cultural programming for students, but a recent letter from Reps. Henry…Helle Dale -
4 Steps to Better School Security
America has continued the heated debate as to what must be done to adequately protect our children at schools. Some (mistakenly) just say “ban guns,” or at least the ones they don’t like. Others (I am afraid equally mistakenly) say just put more guns into schools. The answer is more complex, however, and will take…Steven Bucci -
What John Bolton Brings to the Job of National Security Adviser
John Bolton, who has a history of advocating muscular foreign policy, will guide the White House as the new national security adviser in facing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, experts note. President Donald Trump picked Bolton, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, to replace…Fred Lucas -
Q&A: Rep. Jim Banks Explains How School Choice Strengthens National Security
A new bill introduced in Congress last week would provide more educational choice for military families. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., allows military families to open an education savings account for funding a child's education expenses. The money could be used for private school tuition, textbooks, online classes, private tutoring, and college tuition….Rob Bluey -
China Copes With Insecurity by Boosting National Security Spending
Although much of the discussion of the Chinese National People’s Congress has focused on the removal of term limits, effectively extending Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s) hold on power, the session also has seen yet another increase in China’s national security spending. Both developments point to a sense of insecurity in…Dean Cheng -
The National Security Challenge of Securing Super Bowl LII
This weekend, America will once again sit down to watch the “world championship of American football” (our overseas friends indulge us). The Super Bowl always is, and again will be, a huge event. In fact, it is routinely designated a national security special event. Other examples of national security special events are the president’s State…Steven Bucci -
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