#national-security

#national-security

The Trump administration is directing employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate foreign scientists who collaborate with the agency on research papers for evidence of "subversive or criminal activity." The new directive, part of a broader effort to increase scrutiny of research done with foreign partners, asks workers in the agency's research arm to use Google to check the backgrounds of all foreign nationals collaborating with its scientists.

The US government has introduced new import tariffs on advanced AI chips from Nvidia and AMD, with the aim of channelling part of the proceeds from sales to China directly into the US treasury. According to the Financial Times, the measure is part of President Donald Trump's broader trade and industrial policy, which explicitly intertwines economic transactions and national security.

I can confirm what the attorney general stated and the president as well, which is that the individual, unfortunately, a contractor at the Pentagon, chose to unlawfully leak classified and very serious information to this Washington Post reporter. She continued: Hence, why the reporter's home was looked into by the FBI, and rightfully so. And the administration is not going to tolerate leaks, especially from within the national security apparatus of the United States government that put our nation's integrity national security at risk.

The Trump administration placed new security requirements on Nividia's semiconductor sales to China, but essentially greenlighted the export of its powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips to Chinese buyers. Nvidia must ensure that there is an adequate supply in the U.S., and the H200 chips must undergo a third-party review before being exported to China, according to new rules set by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security. But the new rules lower the bar for exports. China won't be allowed to use the chips for military purposes and is not allowed to import more than 50% of the chips sold to U.S. customers.

This bipartisan legislation makes clear that US taxpayer dollars cannot be used for actions that would fracture NATO and violate our own commitments to NATO, said Shaheen, who represents the state of New Hampshire, in a statement. This bill sends a clear message that recent rhetoric around Greenland deeply undermines America's own national security interests and faces bipartisan opposition in Congress, the Democratic senator said.

The government has insisted no decision has been made on a Chinese mega-embassy in London, after MPs on all sides warned of a potential threat to national security. The Conservatives claimed the controversial scheme would give China a "launch-pad for economic warfare". Labour, Tory, Liberal Democrat, DUP and SNP MPs all urged the government to reject the embassy plans to prevent espionage and guard against the "transnational repression" of Hong Kongers in the UK, in an urgent Commons debate.

Revolution Wind has "demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits of its underlying claims" and is is "likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction," Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said in a Monday order. Catch up quick: It's one of five under-construction wind projects off the Atlantic Coast that Trump administration officials halted last month, citing classified national security risks.

Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again, began Trump. He continued: This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President's Authority as Commander in Chief. In any event, and despite their stupidity, the War Powers Act is Unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me.

Chinese officials are looking into whether Meta Platforms Inc.'s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus violated regulations, an initial review that could hinder the deal down the road if officials determine wrongdoing. Regulators have begun a review of the transaction unveiled in December, including possible national security implications, people familiar with the matter said. Worth more than $2 billion, the deal will be assessed for its consistency with relevant laws and regulations, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said at a regular briefing.

A shake-up of the government's defence science powerhouse at Porton Down has severely damaged morale and harmed work on critical science that supports national security, a senior whistleblower has told the Guardian. The whistleblower said they were raising concerns in the public interest that the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), based largely at Porton Down in Wiltshire, had been left in a paralysing limbo because of the changes.

The Chinese Communist party's practice is to try and destroy history and truth, the 46-year-old director says from his home in the region. It's ridiculous that I can still live in Hong Kong without being in jail. In a society where someone can be jailed for wearing a seditious T-shirt, his surprise is understandable. Chow is best known for co-directing the 2015 dystopian anthology film Ten Years, which imagined a future Hong Kong under the increasing influence of the CCP.

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. The stories that resonated most with our readers this year include reporting that led the political conversation, analysis that unraveled deep mysteries, and meditations on our evolving culture. Spend time with some of our most popular stories of the year.

Today, based on an Executive Branch national security determination, the FCC has added foreign-produced UAS (drones) and foreign-produced UAS critical component parts to the FCC's Covered List on a going forward basis. President Trump has been clear that his Administration will... pic.twitter.com/tVLlsBeOfw- Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) December 22, 2025

If the deal closes as expected on January 22, the new US company will have an estimated value of $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance noted in September. At that point, the deal will likely face mounting scrutiny from lawmakers, including Republicans, who aren't yet sure if the US operation resolves all national security concerns. Chinese control of the algorithm was a particular sticking point for critics, who claimed that Trump was giving China exactly what it wanted:

The TikTok deal positions Oracle as a key investor and security partner, potentially providing a new revenue stream through cloud services and data management for TikTok's 170 million U.S. users. While Oracle's cloud infrastructure growth has been driven primarily by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, concerns have skyrocketed in recent weeks over Oracle's debt and capital expenditures, as well as fears of an AI-spending slowdown.

Full restrictions remain in place for 12 countries previously identified as "high risk." Driving the news: The Trump administration instituted full restrictions and entry limitations against Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as people with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Trump expanded restrictions from partial to full against Laos and Sierra Leone. He also added partial restrictions and energy limitations on 15 additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The ban was lifted from Turkmenistan on non-immigrant visas but maintained for immigrants.

Nationals from Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and South Sudan will be prohibited from coming to the US People on Palestinian Authority issued-travel documents are also subject to a total ban Sierra Leone and Laos moved from partial to full restrictions Measures come after an Afghan immigrant was charged in November in the shooting of two National Guards New restrictions to go into effect on January 1