The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) recently publicly indicated that the Russian government may be responsible for hacking the emails of U.S. persons and organizations to compromise election results. USIC said that the trove of emails leaked to sites like WikiLeaks … Read More
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released a list of notable cyber threats that have been affecting computer systems for citizens and businesses across the country. The FBI released its list, which includes ransomware, business email compromises (BEC) and … Read More
A group of 12 U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler urging him to address the potential impacts of stingray technology on communities of color. The concern stems from allegations that state and … Read More
ISIS continues to fundraise despite having a number of revenue sources cut off, according to a recent report released by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX). The report, titled “Cash to Chaos: Dismantling ISIS’ Financial Infrastructure,” … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently purchased two medical products to treat injuries to bone marrow in radiological or nuclear incidents. The products, called colony stimulating … Read More
An improved procurement process of land mobile radios (LMRs) could enhance interoperability and cut overall costs, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). LMRs are generally used by federal agencies in public safety incidents, firefighting … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently sponsored the late-stage development of two different biodosimetry tests to determine how much radiation a human’s body has absorbed. The tests are intended for use in clinical health care laboratories … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded cooperative agreements worth $350,000 to assist healthcare providers and public health sector partners to respond to potential cybersecurity threats. The funds were awarded through HHS’ Office of the National … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response recently entered into a $24.75 million contract with BioProtection Systems Corp. for the development of an Ebola vaccine. The contract comes in the … Read More
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) voiced his support on Wednesday for the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Thompson’s support comes in the wake of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) … Read More
Representatives with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian government recently completed Bulgaria’s new nuclear detection architecture. The representatives said that the new architecture will enhance efforts to … Read More
The Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) recently publicly committed to the National Cyber Security Alliance’s (NCSA) internet safety and security initiative called “Lock Down Your Login.” The initiative was announced by the White House earlier this year and to help Americans … Read More
A pair of legislators from New York recently urged the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a new environmental impact statement on their plan to transport liquid radioactive material through the state. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. … Read More
A group of legislators recently urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to ensure enhanced due process protections for individuals placed on the No Fly List. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) … Read More
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Thursday regarding cybersecurity and control weaknesses at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The report, titled “FDA Needs to Rectify Control Weaknesses That Place Industry and Public Health Data … Read More
A team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions recently developed a DNA vaccine to combat the spread of Zika virus. Research teams with the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute, the Federal University … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently moved forward with the development of the anthrax vaccine NuThrax. ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Emergent … Read More
A group of Republican U.S. senators recently introduced the Taylor Force Act to require the secretary of state to certify that the Palestinian Authority has ended its policy of funding terrorists and their families. The bill was introduced by U.S. … Read More
An Upstate Medical University research team recently began utilizing a social-ecological systems (SES) approach to study mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika, chikungunya and dengue fever. The SES approach builds upon new information as it becomes available to the multi-disciplinary research … Read More
A coalition of leaders from law enforcement agencies, the private sector and academic institutions from across the world met in Singapore this week to address the growing threat of cyber crimes. The meeting, titled “Solutions for Attribution,” saw approximately 200 … Read More
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Tuesday regarding the inactivation of dangerous pathogens and the bioresearch labs that study them. According to a recent report by the U.S Government Accountability Office … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed two homeland security-related bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) with a bipartisan voice vote. “Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack,” Donovan said. “Last weekend’s … Read More
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) received a grant of $471,549 on Monday from the National Security Agency (NSA) for the 2016 Cyber P3 – Cyber Soldier Development Grant Program. The program seeks to educate qualified cyber workers … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) approved a contract on Monday to develop an inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), … Read More
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released an update on Tuesday to a previous committee report regarding encryption and its impact on law enforcement and counterterrorism. The original report, titled “Going Dark, Going … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas Port of Entry recently arrested an individual carrying approximately 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed within aloe vera juice bottles. The incident began on Sept. 20 … Read More
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) questioned two senior U.S. Department of Defense officials on Thursday about the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries. At a hearing titled “U.S. National Security Challenges and Ongoing Military Operations,” Ernst heard testimony from … Read More
Del Rio Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents recently seized approximately 1,300 pounds of narcotics during the course of six different incidents. The first incident occurred on Aug. 26 when Eagle Pass South Station agents responded to reports of suspicious activity … Read More
U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a previously-deported felon on Thursday near the Calexico West Port of Entry. The incident began as agents observed an individual running north from the International Border fence at approximately 10 P.M. Agents stopped the man … Read More
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) recently received a response to his request for information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding reports that foreign actors hacked into American political organizations. Carper asked DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson to provide … Read More
Yahoo! recently disclosed a massive data breach affecting approximately 500 million email accounts that occurred in late 2014. “Major data breaches remind us that we must do our part and be vigilant in protecting our personal online information,” Michael Kaiser, … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, H.R. 5859, on Thursday, to provide assistance to first responders in communities across the country. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and passed with bipartisan support, … Read More
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently heard testimony from law enforcement officials regarding President Barack Obama’s decision to curtail access to the 1033 program, which gave excess military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. Ratcliffe recently introduced a bill to … Read More
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would give individual state governments the power to approve the resettlement of refugees in their states. The Allow State Sovereignty Upon Refugee Entry (ASSURE) Act was introduced in response … Read More
