October 20, 2021, marked the first anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. The center is taking a holistic, victim-centered approach to counter these crimes.

The “Ransom Disclosure Act would require ransomware victims to disclose ransom payments within 48 hours of payment — including the amount of ransom demanded and paid the type of currency used for payment of the ransom, and any known information about the entity demanding the ransom.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the heightened threat environment across the United States, especially leading up to and following the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks as well as religious holidays that could serve as catalyst for targeted violence.  

Gardner-Webb University of North Carolina will offer a new undergraduate degree in Homeland Security Administration this year.

Plano Fire-Rescue Chief Sam Greif has been appointed to serve as Chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has published the results of the 2020 Privacy Technology Demonstration (2020 Demo). Five privacy systems participated in the event, demonstrating their ability to detect and blur faces in a challenge video created by S&T.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the Department’s largest cybersecurity hiring initiative in its history with the onboarding of nearly 300 cybersecurity professionals and the extension of an additional 500 tentative job offers.