Privacy and Data Security Update for 2023 (FTC); Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector (U.S. Department of the Treasury); Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence (OMB, The White House); Cybersecurity Resources for High-Risk Communities (CISA); Senate Select Intelligence Committee (videos/transcripts); FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect U.S. Steel and Shipbuilding Industry from China’s Unfair Practices (The White House); Forget About Chips—China Is Coming for Ships (Foreign Policy); and Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume IV, National Security Policy (US Department of State).

Critical Mineral Resources: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Role in Research and Analysis; Critical Mineral Resources: National Policy and Critical Minerals List; TikTok and China’s Digital Platforms: Issues for Congress; Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence; FISA Section 702 Sunset, Authorization, and Potential Extension; and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program (all CRS).

Drug Shortage and National Security

Drug Shortage Statistics (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, ongoing); Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains (Health Affairs, 2023); Regulating Medicines in a Globalized World: The Need for Increased Reliance Among Regulators and Building Resilience into the Nation’s Medical Product Supply Chains and The Security of America’s Medical Product Supply Chain: Considerations for Critical Drugs and Devices: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief (NAPress, 2020, 2021,2022); The Health and National Security Risks of Drug Shortages and Short Supply: The Health and National Security Risks of Drug Shortages (both Senate Committee on Homeland Security, 2023); Federal policies to address persistent generic drug shortages (Brookings, 2023); The National Security Rationale for Stockpiling Key Pharmaceutical Ingredients (Council on Strategic Risks, 2024); Drug Shortages Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic (JAMA, 2024. heavily referenced); FDA Drug Shortages (ongoing); and A Proven Model to Combat U.S. Drug Shortages (Harvard Business Review, 2024).

[2024] Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community (DNI); A.I. Joe: The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence and the Military (Public Citizen); How TikTok Became a Hotbed of Brand Misinformation; Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024; Global Terrorism Threat Assessment 2024 (CSIS); What We Know About You: Welcome to the Surveillance State (LLRX); and Satellite Cybersecurity Act.

U.S. Interest in Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Brief Background and Recent Developments; The Global Oil Tanker Market: An Overview as It Relates to Sanctions; and Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (updated March 19, 2024).

Reports on TikTok

How TikTok Became a Hotbed of Brand Misinformation; H.R.231 – Terminate TikTok on Campus Act of 2023 ; Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024; TikTok (C-SPAN); Security implications of China-owned critical infrastructure in the European Union (European Parliament); TikTok and National Security (CSIS); Majority of Americans see TikTok as a national security threat (Pew);

TikTok: Proposed Legislation and Implications; Restricting TikTok (Part I): Legal History and Background; Restricting TikTok (Part II): Legislative Proposals and Considerations for Congress; H.R. 7521 Regulation of TikTok: Analysis of Selected Legal Issues (all CRS)

Bridge Security

Ship Collisions with Bridges: The Nature of the Accidents, Their Prevention and Mitigation (National Research Council. Marine Board, 1983. Highly cited still.)

Recommendations for Bridge and Tunnel Security (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Blue Ribbon Panel on Bridge and Tunnel Security, 2003. An oft-cited report);

Homeland Security Vulnerabilities of the US National Capital Region’s Bridges (U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2016);

and other reports/sites:

A highly technical article from 2020 – Design of bridges against ship collisions – is also available.

Statistical analysis of ship collisions with bridges in China waterway;

Design of steel bridge girders against ship forecastle collisions;

An impact dynamics analysis on a new crashworthy device against ship–bridge collision;

 Fuzzy logic based approach for ship-bridge collision alert system;

Monitoring-based assessment of bridges subject to ship collision; and

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Active and Passive Safety Measures in Preventing Ship–Bridge Collision.

While all these articles feature dense engineering apparati, there is enough information that can be understood by a layperson.

Additionally, the following sites merit attention:

Basics of Vessel Collision (FDOT Transportation Symposium, 2019);

Federal Highway Administration: Bridges & Structures;

Emergency Relief Program for Disaster-Damaged Highways and Bridges (CRS);

National Academies Press: Proposed Guideline for Reliability-Based Bridge Inspection Practices ; Guidelines for Shielding Bridge Piers; Post-Extreme Event Damage Assessment and Response for Highway Bridges; and Design Guide for Bridges for Service Life. 

Here is an FAQ from CRS – Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

High-Performance Computing Security: Architecture, Threat Analysis, and Security Posture (NIST); Does Defensive Gun Use Deter Crime? (NBER); Security Guarantees to Ukraine (UK Parliament Library); and NIST CSF 2.0.

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO); Research Security Policies: An Overview; Global Trends in Democracy and Authoritarianism: Challenges to Press Freedom; Global Health Security: Background and Issues for Congress; Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress; Cybersecurity and Digital Health Information; Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: Issues for Congress; U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine (updated February 15, 2024); Emerging Military Technologies: Background and Issues for Congress; and Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress (updated February 28, 2024); (all CRS).

Defense and National Security (Issues in Science and Technology); Facial Recognition Technology: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (NAP); The European Union (EU) Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) 2023 (EuroPol); Right-Wing Extremist Terrorism in the United States (ADL); Ten issues to watch in 2024 (European Parliament Think Tank); and Who Governs the Palestinians? (CFR).

U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine; COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment—Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress; Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: Issues for Congress; and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Cybersecurity Provisions (all CRS).

2022 Country Reports on Terrorism (State Dept); Forensic Science Factsheets (NIST); CISA Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence: Agencies Have Begun Implementation but Need to Complete Key Requirements (GAO); 2023 National Preparedness Report (previous reports here, FEMA); Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure (effective 12/18/23, SEC); International Threats to Freedom of Expression: 2023 Year in Review (Electronic Frontier Foundation); Intelligence Community Assessment of Foreign Threats to the 2022 U.S. Elections (ODNI,declassified December 11, 2023; originally published December 2022); and IRGC-Affiliated Cyber Actors Exploit PLCs in Multiple Sectors, Including U.S. Water and Wastewater Systems Facilities (CISA).

The AI Executive Order and Its Potential Implications for DOD; Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs: Background and Issues for Congress; The National Spectrum Strategy for Wireless Technologies: Priorities, Objectives, and Congressional Considerations; and The Presidential Records Act: An Overview. (all CRS)

Data Brokers and the Sale of Data on U.S. Military Personnel Risks to Privacy, Safety, and National Security (Duke University); Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, November 4, 2023 (llrx; archives of back issues here); Addressing Bioterrorism in a Changing Scientific and Security Context: Abbreviated Version of a Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief (NA Press); Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations (NIST); An Emergency Management Playbook for State Transportation Agencies (NA Press); Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Hybrid Satellite Networks (NIST); and Guidelines for Secure AI System Development (CISA & NCSC).

Assisting and Evacuating U.S. Citizens Abroad During the Israel-Hamas Conflict and Other International Crises; Israel and Hamas 2023 Conflict In Brief: Overview, U.S. Policy, and Options for Congress; Sanctions Primer: How the United States Uses Restrictive Mechanisms to Advance Foreign Policy or National Security Objectives; Armed Drones: Evolution as a Counterterrorism Tool; Emergency Access to Strategic and Critical Materials: The National Defense Stockpile; Highlights of the 2023 Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence for Congress; Terrorist Financing: Hamas and Cryptocurrency Fundraising; and Artificial Intelligence in the Biological Sciences: Uses, Safety, Security, and Oversight (all CRS)

Facial Recognition Services: Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Should Take Actions to Implement Training, and Policies for Civil Liberties  (GAO); Artificial Intelligence and Election Security (Brennan Center for Justice); Future Directions for Southern Ocean and Antarctic Nearshore and Coastal Research
(The National Academies Press); National Security Snapshot: Oversight of the DOD Nuclear Enterprise (GAO); Status of Open GAO Recommendations Made to the Director of National Intelligence (GAO); What Is Hamas? (CFR); Implementing the 2022 National Defense Strategy (Brookings); Could Artificial Intelligence Be Misused to Plan Biological Attacks? (RAND); and Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (The White House).

Security Clearance Process: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions; U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine; and China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (updated October 19, 2023) (all CRS)

 Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (U.S.Department of State); Safety and Security of AI Systems; Special Resources (series of publications from RUSI); Programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security : draft resolution (United Nations); Test and Evaluation Challenges in Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Systems for the Department of the Air Force (National Academies Press); and Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity: Proceedings of a Workshop (National Academies Press); and Climate Change and National Security: Implications for the Military (Army University Press).

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO); Immigration Crimes: Improper Entry and Reentry; National Security Review Bodies (Part I): Legal Context and Comparison; National Security Review Bodies (Part II): Creating New Review Systems; Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress; Climate and Security in the Middle East and North Africa; Russia’s War in Ukraine: Military and Intelligence Aspects; U.S. Oversight of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity: Current Policies, Recommended Reforms, and Options for Congress; The Strategic National Stockpile: Overview and Issues for Congress; and Climate Change and Extreme Heat (all CRS).

Deterrence (Newport Paper 46 – Naval War College); On the Highway to Climate Hell (Foreign Policy); National Nuclear Security Administration: Assessments of Major Projects (GAO); Guidance on Extreme Temperatures for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Leaders (FEMA); and Safety and Security of Artificial Intelligence Systems (Law Library of Congress).

Artificial Intelligence: Overview, Recent Advances, and Considerations for the 118th Congress; Guam: Defense Infrastructure and Readiness; Russia’s Wagner Group in Africa: Issues for Congress; U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Considerations for Congress (updated August 16, 2023); U.S.-China Competition in Emerging Technologies: LiDAR; Procedures for Declassifying Intelligence of Public Interest; Cybersecurity: Selected Cyberattacks, 2012-2022; DHS’s Cybersecurity Mission—An Overview; Protection of Undersea Telecommunication Cables: Issues for Congress (updated August 7, 2023); and Law Enforcement and Technology: Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (updated August 22, 2023) (all CRS).

Atlas of Surveillance; Artificial intelligence : risks and opportunities : hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, first session, March 8, 2023; Drone security : enhancing innovation and mitigating supply chain risks : hearing before the Subcommittee on Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, first session, June 18, 2019 (released 2023);  Transnational Organized Crime: Actions Needed to Enhance Management and Capabilities of the Watchlist Program (GAO); Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Homeland Security (GAO); Cybersecurity Insights (NIST);  “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark” (The White House); and Climate & Conflict (Climate & Conflict.org).

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (updated July 5, 2023); Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community: Selected Congressional Notification Requirements; Pipeline Physical Security: Federal Efforts; The National Cybersecurity Strategy—Going Where No Strategy Has Gone Before; Security: Regulatory Implications of Terrorism Risk Assessment Methodology; FBI Headquarters Site Selection Process; and State Department Country Reports on Terrorism: 2001–2021 (all CRS).

ISOO 2022 Annual Report to the President (Information Security Oversight Office, NARA); Examining the U.S. Capitol Attack (Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs); National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee Year 1 Report 2023; Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues (highly recommended); What is Secure? An Analysis of Popular Messaging Apps (Tech Policy Press); The Presidential Records Act, Clinton’s Socks, and Trump’s Boxes (Lawfare); How AI could take over elections and undermine democracy (LLRX); and Standing Committee on Law and National Security (panel discussions, ABA).

CFIUS Executive Order on Evolving National Security Risks and CFIUS Enforcement Guidelines; Congressional Primer on Responding to and Recovering from Major Disasters and Emergencies;  Election Worker Safety and Privacy; and Wagner Group Mutiny in Russia (All CRS).

Cybersecurity Issues and Protection Strategies for State Transportation Agency CEOs (NAP); Public Health Preparedness: Critical Need to Address Deficiencies in HHS’s Leadership and Coordination of Emergencies (GAO); Beyond the Safeguards: Exploring the Security Risks of ChatGPT (arXiv); Six Questions Every DOD AI and Autonomy Program Manager Needs to Be Prepared to Answer (CSIS); and Cybersecurity Framework (NIST)

Statutory Restrictions on the Use of Journalists for Intelligence Purposes; Election Security: Federal Funding for Securing Election Systems; Criminal Prohibitions on Leaks and Other Disclosures of Classified Defense Information; Asylum Process in Immigration Courts and Selected Trends; Defense Primer: U.S. Policy on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems; U.S. Intelligence Community Establishment Provisions; Criminal Prohibitions on Leaks and Other Disclosures of Classified Defense Information; Cybercrime and the Law: Primer on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Related Statutes; Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress (updated May 16, 2023); and Generative Artificial Intelligence and Data Privacy: A Primer. (all CRS)

 NIST Trustworthy & Responsible Artificial Intelligence Resource Center; Water Stress: A Global Problem That’s Getting Worse (CFR); Could Dementia in the National Security Workforce Create a Security Threat? (RAND); International Security Program (CSIS); NIST Digital Archives (thousands of reports, some going back 100 years); How is Congress handling the TikTok conundrum? (podcast, Brookings); After leak, Pentagon purges some users’ access to classified programs, launches security review (Breaking Defense); The Russian “Firehose of Falsehood” Propaganda Model Why It Might Work and Options to Counter It (RAND); Wastewater-based Disease Surveillance for Public Health Action (NAP); and 2023 High Risk List (GAO).

Defense Primer: Acquiring Specialty Metals and Sensitive Materials; War Crimes: A Primer; TikTok: Recent Data Privacy and National Security Concerns; DOT’s Federal Pipeline Safety Program: Background and Issues for Congress; The Director of National Intelligence (DNI); Climate Change and Adaptation: Department of Defense; Science and Technology Issues for the 118th Congress (updated April 6, 2023); Security for the Federal Judiciary: Recent Developments; and Critical Minerals: A U.S.-EU Free Trade Agreement? (all CRS).

Special CRS subsection: “United Nations Issues”

United Nations Issues: Overview of the United Nations System

United Nations Issues: U.S. Funding to the U.N. System

|United Nations Issues: U.S. Funding of U.N. Peacekeeping

United Nations Issues: Cabinet Rank of the U.S. Permanent Representative

United Nations Issues: U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right

United Nations Issues: Congressional Representatives to the U.N. General Assembly

Domestic Terrorism: Further Actions Needed to Strengthen FBI and DHS Collaboration to Counter Threats (GAO); Climate Change & National Security: Implications for the Military (Army University Press); Global Jihadist Terrorism: Terrorist Groups, Zones of Armed Conflict and National Counter-Terrorism Strategies (Elgar Publishing); U.S. Intelligence Directors Testify on Global Threats (Senate Intelligence Committee, courtesy of C-SPAN); Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community (DNI); Murder & Extremism in the United States in 2022 (Anti-Defamation League); Capitol Attack: Federal Agencies Identified Some Threats, but Did Not Fully Process and Share Information Prior to January 6, 2021, Report to Congressional Requesters (GAO) and; TikTok CEO Testifies at House Commerce Committee (C-SPAN).

U.S. Intelligence Community Establishment Provisions; Oil and Chemical Spills: Federal Emergency Response Framework (updated March 6, 2023); Armed Drones: Evolution as a Counterterrorism Tool; Banking, Data Privacy, and Cybersecurity Regulation; Drought in the United States: Science, Policy, and Selected Federal Authorities; National Security Implications of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technologies (updated March 14, 2023); The Director of National Intelligence (DNI); Regulating Big Tech: CRS Legal Products for the 118th Congress; Reauthorization of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; Transferring Fighter Aircraft to Ukraine: Issues and Options for Congress; and The Department of Homeland Security: A Primer (updated March 21, 2023). (all CRS)