The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Tuesday that found that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has taken steps intended to improve the security effectiveness of expedited passenger screening since GAO last reported on it in Dec. 2014. … Read More
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) program awarded Phase 2 system integration contracts on Monday to two companies, with six other companies collaborating on the project. The two awardees included Lockheed Martin Corporation … Read More
Results of a Raytheon-commissioned study released on Monday found that organizations worldwide wait until they fall victim to a damaging cyber attack before engaging a provider of managed security services (MSS). Two-thirds of survey respondents indicated that their organizations were … Read More
The Security Industry Association (SIA) recognized three members of Congress on Friday as SIA Legislators of the Year for their efforts to strengthen security matters. The awards are presented annually to a select group of elected officials who have demonstrated … Read More
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) applauded the strategic plan to protect and grow Michigan’s defense industry on Friday. Miller will join Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and other Michigan officials in … Read More
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently released the June Terror Threat Snapshot, surveying growing threats that face America and its allies in the West. “We face a challenging threat environment here at home as Islamist extremists abroad … Read More
Battelle demonstrated on Friday that its new Resource Effective Bio-Identification System (REBS) can successfully perform all required functions, including the identification of threat agent bioaerosols. REBS is a cost-effective bioaerosol identification system that provides rapid, flexible aerosol collection and identification … Read More
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), along with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Brazilian Federal Police, recently held training courses to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of Brazilian authorities to deal with a range of potential crimes leading … Read More
Science Applications International Corp. (SIAC) was awarded a five-year, multiple-award, indefinite deliver, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $460 million on Wednesday from the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management (FEDSIM) and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). “SAIC … Read More
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Tuesday that found that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport perimeter and access control security would benefit from a risk assessment and strategy updates. The report noted that the TSA has … Read More
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) trained a group of 31 first responders from Central America and Mexico during a sub-regional exercise held May 16-20. The exercise trained the attendees on responses to chemical warfare agents and … Read More
A bipartisan coalition of representatives introduced legislation on Friday that would help ease congestion and long lines at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) screening checkpoints at the nation’s airports. The FASTER Act, H.R. 5340, would ensure that passenger security fees only … Read More
Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu warned that non-state actors are likely developing and using chemical weapons abroad during his keynote speech last week at the 19th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarization Conference … Read More
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on Friday introduced the Checkpoint Optimization Act of 2016 to overhaul the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) bureaucracy and relieve congestion at airports as peak travel season approaches. “Travelers are frustrated with TSA’s bureaucracy – facing … Read More
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) sent a letter on Thursday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urging him to strengthen information-sharing efforts pursuant to the visa waiver program and calling on him to designate additional “countries of concern.” … Read More
A bill to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster assistance capabilities and programs authored by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) was approved by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) on Wednesday … Read More
A union representing workers of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took out a full-page ad in The Hill newspaper on Wednesday to amplify its call for 6,000 additional full-time security screeners to alleviate long airport security lines. The American Federation … Read More
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) urged the Senate on Tuesday to pass two bills that seek to close vulnerabilities at overseas airports. The Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016, H.R. 4314, accelerates the transfer of certain … Read More
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) led a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications and the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection and Security on Tuesday regarding potential cyber threats. “Our legacy response doctrine – from … Read More
The U.S. Army Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense awarded Battelle a $59 million contract on Monday for medical countermeasures to combat infectious diseases affecting warfighters and the general public. The grant is part of Battelle’s OASIS … Read More
A coalition of Democratic lawmakers joined Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials on Monday in releasing new steps to help address growing security line delays at Newark Liberty International Airport. The coalition included U.S. Sens. Robert Melendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker … Read More
Representatives from 21 Eastern European States voiced their support of awareness-raising efforts by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) during the first regional meeting on education and outreach early this month in Vilnius, Lithuania. In total, 45 … Read More
House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Tuesday urged the United States Senate to take action on two bipartisan bills aimed at reducing wait times at the nation’s airports. The TSA PreCheck Expansion Act, H.R. 2343, was introduced by … Read More
A coalition of financial trade associations, led by the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR), made a push this week to encourage Congress to pass a data security bill that would protect consumers from data breaches. Each group is pushing for the … Read More
Avon Protection on Monday introduced new technology designed to combat chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats for first responders and other security-related officers. One of the new products includes the Avon CSPARR, the newest generation of CBRN powered air … Read More
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ordered a bulk supply of Bavarian Nordic’s non-replicating smallpox vaccine Imvamune on Friday. Imvamune is being developed as a smallpox … Read More
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) introduced the Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act of 2016, H.R. 5253, on Thursday to enhance visa screening procedures at U.S. embassy outposts overseas. The bill calls for the Department of Homeland Security to assign … Read More
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) called upon the U.S. Senate on Tuesday to take action on his bipartisan TSA PreCheck Expansion Act, H.R. 2843, in order to address long security lines affecting many of the nation’s airports. The TSA PreCheck … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act, H.R. 4743, on Monday in an effort to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses and keep critical infrastructure intact in the face of cyber threats. The bill, authored by … Read More
Congressional staff visited the campus of the National Defense University (NDU) on May 3 to participate in a wide array of lessons that demonstrated the complex nature of cyber defense operations. The event was hosted by NDU, along with representative … Read More
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) called upon Congress on Monday to pass emergency legislation funding the hiring of more than 6,000 new full-time screeners to alleviate long security lines at the nation’s airports. “These additional TSOs will at least … Read More
Battelle is set to showcase its new anti-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) device, DroneDefender, along with other new technologies at the Sea Air Space Show from May 16-18. DroneDefender is the first man-portable system to provide critical security protection against small … Read More
U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) returned to the United States last week after visiting Egyptian leaders to discuss the growing presence of ISIS in the region and efforts to combat terrorist groups throughout North Africa. “ISIS … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on Monday agreed to sponsor a new point-of-care anthrax diagnostic test. The 18-month, $2.5 million agreement is through ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a sponsored study on Tuesday that found that up to 99 percent of chemical contamination can be removed by carefully removing clothes and wiping skin with a paper towel or … Read More
