The United States has completed a government-wide Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan.
The Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan focuses on three core areas: prevention of attacks, response to acts of maritime crime, and enhancing maritime security and governance.
This report contains observations on the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) BioWatch program, with particular focus on the cancellation of BioWatch Generation 3 (Gen-3) and future considerations for the program.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development today approved fiscal year 2015 funding legislation that totals $34.2 billion in discretionary budget authority. The bill focuses on 3 priorities: advancing water resources projects, mitigating the effects of drought and reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Changes to flood hazard determinations, such as new or modified Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways have been finalized. Flood hazard determinations are used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.
Congress has authorized and appropriated a suite of deployable federal assets to support domestic disaster response operations. This report reviews several key concepts about these federal assets, and highlights possible issues Congress may wish to consider when evaluating their authorization and appropriation.
In 2012, GAO identified security weaknesses at U.S. medical facilities that use high-risk radiological sources, such as cesium-137. This report examines the challenges in reducing security risks posed by industrial radiological sources and the steps federal agencies are taking to improve security of the sources.
The United States maintains about 285 diplomatic facilities worldwide. Attacks on such facilities, and on U.S. diplomatic personnel, are not infrequent. The inability to provide perfect security has focused particular scrutiny on the deployment of diplomatic personnel in high-threat environments. This report provides background information on the organization, practice, and funding of U.S. diplomatic security efforts.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks, the September 2013 Washington Navy Yard shootings, and the April 2014 Fort Hood shootings have refocused the federal government's attention on building security activities. With renewed attention on such incidents, this report answers several common questions regarding federal building and facility security.
On 1 August 2013, the president issued Executive Order 13650 - Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security - to improve the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to facility workers, communities, and responders. This status report summarizes actions to date, findings, lessons learned, challenges, and priority actions.
Information and communication systems, which are susceptible to cyber-related threats, support the annual $1.3-trillion cargo operations of U.S. maritime ports. The U.S. Government Accountability Office identified, and made recommendations based on, actions that federal stakeholders have taken to address cybersecurity concerns in the maritime port environment.
