this just in. amid the rising tensions between the u.s. and russia over the sanctions the president just slapped on vladimir putin s government, the senate armed services committee led by senator john mccain has just announced that it will hold a hearing next week on basically exactly this. cyberthreats including election hacking. this will be just as congress returns from their winter break. this will be a very important moment and will set the tone, i can venture to guess, of how the senate, the republican-controlled congress will be dealing with this issue. major issue going forward. also, we are watching right now major security preparations under way in cities across america as they get ready for new year s eve celebrations. thousands of officers are on alert here in new york city. a new layer of security has been added, massive sand trucks, enhancements over heightened fears after a truck attack on a
brinn, what is the nypd doing to prepare for the big night? always preparing for this night. reporter: that s right. they start preparing for this night a year ago once that ball drops. it s a security plan that is many layers and it s constantly evolving as more terror threats sort of pop up around the world. in particular for this year, something new we learned from the nypd is they re going to station 65 sand trucks and 100 what they call barrier trucks which are basically department vehicles, they ll be placed all around the perimeter of times square. that s very new for this particular year because timally we see a few of those trucks spotted around but not building somewhat of a fence around this area to secure all those people who will be in here celebrating the new year. another thing that we re hearing from authorities is that nypd detectives have been visiting truck rental centers, actually going to hotels and talking to managers and owners, also securing down manhole cover
brynn gingras has more. reporter: 2 million people expected to ring in the new year on times square. it takes an armory to propy to city. no credible threats against the ball drop at this point. every precaution is taking place. we are told by the nypd, they prepare for this once the ball drops earlier this year. it is a multilayer level of security. two things to note we have not seen in previous years at this event. that is 65 sand trucks and 100 barrier trucks which are department vehicles will form a perimeter around times square area. that is in direct response to the truck-style attacks we saw in nice and berlin. we know within the last few weeks, authorities have been
christmas market crowd just days ago. let me bring in cnn s brynn gingras in times square. you have been watching all of this. the nypd held a briefing yesterday. where do preparations stand? reporter: we are talking about multi-layers of security that the nypd puts in place really as dhaingi as the changin across the world evolves. they have to continually adjust their plan. new york city is on high alert in anticipation of one of the biggest new year s eve celebrations in the world. securing it takes an army. 7,000 police officers are just one part of the enhanced measures being taken to protect the city. this is where everybody s got to be on their toes. i know it s complacency can set in at times, but certainly not at an event like this. reporter: in the wake of the isis inspired attacks in berlin and nice, 65 sand trucks and 100 blockers will be stationed around the city.
crossroads of the world security. authorities are pulling out the stops to keep revelers safe. brynn gingras mahas more. reporter: 2 million people are expected to ring in times square on new year s eve. it takes an army to protect the city against any possible threats. no credible threats against the new year s eve ball drop event at this point according to the nypd. every precaution is taking place. we are told by the nypd, they prepare for this once the ball dropped earlier this year. it is a multilayer level of security. two things to note, we have not seen in previous years at this particular event. that is 65 sand trucks and 100 barrier trucks which are department vehicles will form a perimeter around this times square area. that is in direct response to the truck-style attacks we saw in nice and berlin.