Government
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) personnel said the agency has released an updated version of its Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers Guidance, which focuses on safety and nationwide operations.
Version 4.0 of the document reflects the changing landscape of the... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a call for candidates to submit technologies for a non-invasive febrile temperature screening of COVID-19 to be included in an upcoming market study.
All interested vendors, manufacturers, and... Read More »
As Congress continues to discuss future COVID-19 relief legislation, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), along with 24 other senators, called on Senate leadership this week to include $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in any relief package.
This, the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bill designed to promote the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the United States.
Specifically, the Make PPE in America Act would require the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to issue long-term contracts for... Read More »
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that seeks to reverse the decrease in vaccination rates, which have plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act (H.R. 8061) would make investments to evaluate and develop local initiatives to... Read More »
Plasma Technologies of Charleston, S.C., signed an agreement with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) to develop a process to produce higher-yielding anti-COVID-19 immune serum for scale-up and manufacturing.
A higher yield hyperimmune serum would be an... Read More »
Four federal agencies have issued an advisory guidance document to aid non-federal public and private entities in understanding federal laws and regulations addressing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations threats.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),... Read More »
Scientists from the University of Illinois and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) have designed and tested a decoy protein capable of tricking SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID-19 -- and could potentially lead to a treatment.
Their results,... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken some steps to implement new authority to speed up innovation of medical countermeasures like vaccines for COVID-19, but has not yet chosen a private, nonprofit partner to work with on this problem, according to a recently released... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an amendment increasing Lyme disease research funding to a total of $20 million at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for fiscal year 2021.
The amendment, authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), boosts Lyme disease research... Read More »
U.S. Reps. John Joyce (R-PA) and David Trone (D-MD) introduced bills to strengthen the nation’s national security and improve its medical infrastructure.
One of the bills is the Strengthening Our Health Security Through Resilient Medical Supply Chains Annual Review Act. This legislation would... Read More »
President Donald Trump has signed into law the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act (SAFR), which improves access to financial assistance public safety officer families lost to COVID-19.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the measure, which they said... Read More »
As part of the federal Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) recently announced a partnership with the McKesson Corporation, which will help distribute future COVID-19 vaccines and supplies.
The decision taps an existing Centers for... Read More »
A COVID-19 diagnostic created by Yale School of Public Health -- the SalivaDirect test -- became the first of its kind to gain a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) last week.
SalivaDirect approaches the processing of saliva samples in an entirely... Read More »
The Marine Corps Systems Command’s mission to support Marines continues, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
With travel restrictions in place, MCSC began conducting online training to teach marines how to use new gear. This online training, called Virtual NET, is designed to replicates a live... Read More »
Members of the Congressional Cyberspace Solarium are introducing a bill to modernize and secure state and local government information technology.
The bill, the State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act, addresses a recommendation from the Solarium’s pandemic white paper that... Read More »
The Marine Corps has awarded a $19 million contract to BAE Systems to develop the prototype design for a Wargaming Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
“We will build on our experience supporting the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Wargaming Division and partner with a diverse... Read More »
National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel have issued a new Cybersecurity Advisory regarding previously undisclosed Russian malware.
The NSA and FBI said the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) 85th Main Special Service Center... Read More »
With billions in public funding being directed to coronavirus treatment and vaccine research, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Mike Braun (R-IN) have introduced the Taxpayer Research and Coronavirus Knowledge (TRACK) act to publicly account for where those dollars are going.
The bill would... Read More »
In an effort to expand SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID-19 -- tests by millions per month, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invested $6.5 million into two commercial diagnostic laboratories: Aegis Sciences Corporation and Sonic Healthcare USA.
These... Read More »
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are among a group of 34 senators calling on President Donald Trump to restore full funding to states to cover the cost of the National Guard responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Guard units across the country have helped states respond to... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new funding opportunity to expand the uses of electronic health information via health information exchanges (HIEs) to support public health agencies.
Strengthening health data exchange between HIEs and state and local public... Read More »
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate seeks to help safeguard American telecommunications networks against cyberthreats from untrusted foreign equipment suppliers.
The Ensuring Network Security Act would expand access to federal “rip and replace” funding for telecommunications providers... Read More »
A bill was introduced in the House to protect patients from increased out-of-pocket prescription drug costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Preserving Patient Savings on Drug Costs Act (H.R. 7647) would delay the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) 2021 Notice of Benefit and... Read More »
Transportation Security Administration officials said personnel at two airports are using new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) to confirm the identification (ID) validity and flight information in near real-time.
Systems at Baltimore/Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport... Read More »
Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced a measure they said is designed to aid universities and research institutions in protecting COVID-19 research from China and Russia cyberattacks.
The legislation would grant universities and research institutions access to cybersecurity... Read More »
Insurance-exempt and cost-share free, a new bill introduced to the Senate this week would waive any costs for Americans in need of a COVID-19 vaccine, whenever one emerges.
Introduced by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO),... Read More »
Under a new agreement reached with Moderna, Inc., the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) have ordered 100 million doses of the mRNA-1273 vaccine, a candidate for use against COVID-19.
That vaccine was co-developed by Moderna and the National Institute of... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted the COVID-19 Testing Plans from all states and localities for July through December on its website.
The State Testing Plans were developed in partnership with the federal government for each jurisdiction. The plans include details on... Read More »
A group of Congressional Republicans is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to require media company Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent.
The lawmakers said that Al Jazeera, which is owned by the Qatari government, have engaged in activities that align closely with the priorities of... Read More »
The Space and Missile Systems Center and the National Reconnaissance Office announced this week that United Launch Alliance LLC and SpaceX garnered National Security Space launch (NSSL) service contracts.
The Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite Delivery Requirement pacts add to savings the NSSL program... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure they said bolsters global cooperation in combating synthetic drug trafficking.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have collaborated with Reps. David Trone (D-MD) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) in crafting the Fighting Emerging... Read More »
As Congress continues to grapple over the next COVID-19 relief package, more than two dozen senators wrote a letter to Senate leadership this week to request inclusion of $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Whatever form the final legislation takes, they reasoned, funds... Read More »
Legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and report data about COVID-19 in correctional facilities was introduced in Congress.
Prisons and jails have become hotspots for the spread of COVID-19,... Read More »
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report regarding the appointment of temporary and term personnel by the Department of Defense (DoD).
The (DoD) uses term and temporary appointments to hire personnel to non-permanent positions that have uncertain funding or workload. Term... Read More »
