NCISS 2025 Hit the Hill Recap
Edward J Ajaeb | Published on 4/2/2025
Last week, NCISS members convened in Washington, D.C. for our annual "Hit the Hill" legislative advocacy event. We collectively met with over 75 members of Congress and staff to let them know what issues are important to the private investigator and security guard professions.
Hit the Hill is an annual opportunity for individual professionals to meet with lawmakers in Washington to discuss issues that may affect our industry. We help inform and educate lawmakers and staff on the impacts of legislation on our profession as well as our justice system and society. Hit the Hill gives us a voice in Washington so that lawmakers can hear first-hand from investigators and security professionals how laws may impact our ability to work and serve the public.
When bills are introduced, it is crucial that lawmakers understand our roles in society and how laws can inadvertently exclude investigators and security professionals from the necessary access we need to effectively do our jobs. During our Hit the Hill meetings with legislators, we focused on various aspects of the law that can impact us and presented ourselves as a resource for when bills arise. Being visible can be a challenge on Capitol Hill, but this show of force enables us to have a meaningful impact on legislation.
Some of the topics we discussed with congressional staff include:
- Data privacy legislation to make sure that our profession can continue to access information and data. We support reasonable restrictions to make sure private information is used appropriately and kept secure, but want laws to protect our access in support of legitimate criminal, civil, and business investigations.
- Drones which are frequently used by investigators and security professionals as safe and effective tools.
- Independent contractor agreements which are critical to our business models to be able to build case-specific teams. We are concerned about the language in proposed rules and bills that would impact our ability to serve our clients.
If you were unable to attend Hit the Hill this year, or were on the fence about joining, NCISS encourages you to join next year. Mark your calendar for March 22-25, 2026. Hit the Hill is an exciting and powerful opportunity make our voice heard and help shape the course of our profession for the good and ensure our ability to serve our clients. You'll also get to meet and network with colleagues from across the country.
NCISS extends its thanks to all who volunteered their time to attend and make this event a great success! We especially thank our generous sponsors, IRBsearch and Bright Line Investigations:
About the Author
Edward J. Ajaeb, CLI
Edward Ajaeb is the current President of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS). He is also the President and CEO of Nighthawk Strategies. Ajaeb has been featured in Forbes, NBC, CBS, U.S. News & World Report, PI Magazine, Security Today, and other acclaimed media outlets, magazines, and podcasts.