Government
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has released the “Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Planning Toolkit” to help local authorities to develop an effective program for alerts, warnings, and notifications.
IPAWS is a national system that provides... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) TSA Systems Integration Facility (TSIF) recently hosted TSA Administrator David Pekoske, who met with the local TSA workforce and conducted a virtual town hall meeting.
The facility based in Arlington, Va., possesses a 128,000 square-foot... Read More »
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) recently introduced a concurrent resolution calling for the creation of a national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.
The effort stems from coordinating with stakeholders and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) - and includes recommendations from... Read More »
In a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, 15 Democratic senators called for the agency to be fully transparent in its COVID-19 vaccine review process, over concerns President Donald Trump is pressuring it to approve a vaccine before Election Day.
Public trust must be... Read More »
Building on an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has declared a public health emergency in Oregon due to ongoing wildfires that have killed at least eight people and burned approximately 1 million acres.
The emergency declaration... Read More »
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing districts along the Northern and Southern U.S. borders introduced a bill that directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a strategy to integrate emerging technologies in the nation’s border security strategy.
The... Read More »
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are seeking information from the nine pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 vaccines about their research and development efforts and how they are ensuring that only a safe and effective product will be made publicly available.
The... Read More »
The Secret Service recently hosted a virtual Cyber Incident Response Simulation officials focused on ransomware attack and mitigation strategies.
“Recognizing the dynamic nature of this threat, President Trump has made it a priority to build strong and robust cybersecurity across the federal... Read More »
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) has introduced a measure she said is designed to combat cross-border tunnel trafficking operations across the nation’s southern border.
The DHS Illicit Border Tunnel Defense Act has a companion measure introduced by Rep.Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) in the House in... Read More »
Global leaders gather for a virtual session of the 75th United Nations General Assembly this month, and as proceedings got underway, the World Health Organization (WHO) took the opportunity to push for three actions it deems key to the collective future.
Foremost among these concerns a weight on... Read More »
America’s top public health officials earlier Wednesday briefed U.S. Senate subcommittee members on two documents outlining the Trump administration’s strategy to distribute over the next several months safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccines to Americans as quickly as possible once the Food... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) has introduced a bill that would create a COVID-19 Misinformation & Disinformation Task Force to counter the rising misinformation and disinformation related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The task force will be charged with coordinating the government’s analysis... Read More »
House Republican leaders are seeking information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how it plans to manage COVID-19 response efforts in addition to the flu and other respiratory issues this season.
“We share your concerns about the unprecedented convergence of two... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is providing chemical hazard support as the Gulf Coast prepares for another major storm.
DHS indicated the Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) is spearheading the support effort with... Read More »
Louisville Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency officials said officers recently seized 10 boxes of Virus Shut Out devices, which officials said does not protect the bearer from the Coronavirus.
Authorities indicated the shipment of shut out devices, which claim potency against Coronavirus... Read More »
The House this week took up and passed the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act, a bill originally introduced by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Mark Werner (D-VA) in 2017, which would require Internet-connected devices purchased by the government to meet certain security... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced a build that would help equip the general public, as well as businesses and governments, with the tools and guidance to protect against cyberthreats.
The bill – the Cyber Essentials Act -- directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding its efforts to combat emerging terrorist threats and improve information sharing.
The DHS’s Public Action Plan outlines the goals set by DHS, including efforts to secure cyberspace, deter lone wolf attacks, and secure soft targets such as... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated two Defense Production Act Title III funding initiatives designed to sustain essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical small businesses.
“The Department remains closely partnered with FEMA and HHS, providing almost $2.9... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials recently noted a narcotics seizure increase of more than 1,000 percent within the Buffalo Field Office during fiscal year 2020 over last year.
“The work of the officers has been incredible, and their dedication to CBP's enforcement mission is... Read More »
The development of a diagnostic tool for assessing, diagnosing, reporting, and tracking COVID-19 patients by 98point6 is now being supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The tool, originally used to treat and track influenza infections, also utilizes a... Read More »
After more than 15 years since Congress passed the REAL ID Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated each state is now fully compliant in issuing the cards.
Presently 50 states have issued more than 105 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards -... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) personnel recently partnered with the Colorado Rockies, as well as state, local, and federal authorities in a safety initiative.
Officials recently outlined a virtual tabletop exercise reviewing... Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted enhanced screening requirements on most inbound international flights this week, abruptly changing a system based on 15 airports that have been in place since March.
Under current rules, international passengers from high-risk countries... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation last week seeking to provide $118.9 million in funding for the organization and strengthen global COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
The funds provided under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act would be a continuation of dues the... Read More »
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will award $50 million in funding for school safety initiatives through its School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).
The program provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures for primary and... Read More »
A bipartisan group of senators recently called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve COVID-19 data collection and management.
Specifically, the lawmakers are asking the agencies to harness technologically... Read More »
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) launched this week an initiative designed to aid in combating Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) utilizing social media platforms to recruit and raise funds with cryptocurrencies.
Gottheimer said the “Online Arsenal to Combat Foreign Terrorist Organizations”... Read More »
Under new legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), American companies operating with the support of U.S. taxpayer funds would be barred from providing any new COVID-19 vaccine to citizens of other countries ahead of Americans.
The America First Vaccine Act (S. 4542) would lock... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) are urging the Trump administration to investigate Russia’s alleged use of chemical weapons in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
This request triggers an investigation into Russia’s alleged violation of... Read More »
The Air Force has awarded a $13.3 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to modernize the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system via the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.
The scope of work would be based on the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD)... Read More »
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) said the recent release of its new white paper regarding the establishment of a cyber workforce framework seeks to address industry personnel shortfalls.
The document, “Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce” was released at a virtual event... Read More »
The Trump administration announced a new cybersecurity policy for systems used in space.
The Space Policy Directive- 5 (SPD-5) puts in place key systems for global communications, navigation, weather monitoring, and other critical services. It also establishes the Department of Homeland... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking handheld, portable and desktop explosives trace detectors (ETDs).
The agency recently released a request for information (RFI) for the devices, which possess the ability to analyze wipe samples... Read More »
A new facility -- the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- meant to house top-of-the-line labs for research into foreign animal diseases will soon transfer from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but outstanding issues could... Read More »
