Countermeasures
The U.S. Department of Energy recently created a new research center to advance the study and development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Scientists from the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Georgia Institute of Technology will staff the new... Read More »
A U.S. Senate resolution recently recognized October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019.
This year’s theme is “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.” The goal is to emphasize personal accountability and to take proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity.
Key areas of focus this year... Read More »
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have appointed Dr. Alfonso Clavijo as director of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).
The NBAF, which is currently under construction by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is a research and diagnostic facility designed to... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reminding U.S. citizens that, beginning Oct. 1, 2020, all air travelers must be REAL ID-compliant to fly within the United States.
Travelers must present a REAL ID driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license or other acceptable forms of... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced intentions to enhance collective autonomous systems in a way that will support urban troop offensives, and to that end, are seeking proposals for operational swarm tactics and new technologies to integrate into these swarms.
It is... Read More »
(Corrects paragraph 4 to reflect the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters has not yet been decided.)
Air Force Gen. John Raymond, who was selected in August by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Space Command, recently emphasized the need for U.S. superiority in an increasingly... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute Inc. of Washington, D.C., with about $20.5 million to develop vaccines against Marburg virus and Sudan ebolavirus infections.
Both diseases are caused by the same family of viruses... Read More »
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has earmarked funds to aid the development of new technology that could bolster emergency preparedness by producing platelets outside the human body.
If the two-year, $4.9 million agreement between HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development... Read More »
Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems, a joint venture of Raytheon Company and Rheinmetall Land Systems, selected Monday Textron Systems to produce the chassis the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The joint venture is looking to offer Lynx to meet the Army's requirement for an Optionally Manned... Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved Bavarian Nordic to market a new, alternative smallpox vaccine known as JYNNEOS.
JYNNEOS is a live, non-replicating vaccine specifically made for adults. It is an alternative to the existing ACAM2000, which though licensed, cannot be... Read More »
Two House subcommittee chairmen recently sent a letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, requesting information about how the intelligence community (IC) is combatting the growing threat of transnational, white supremacist terrorism.
At a joint subcommittee hearing last... Read More »
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a network of research centers that will work to develop better influenza vaccines.
NIAID – which is part of the National Institutes of Health -- will provide up to $51 million in funding for the initiative, called... Read More »
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne virus, recently led to the deaths of three Michigan residents, and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is pressing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for details of their efforts to halt it.
In addition to the three fatalities, EEE... Read More »
The House of Representatives advanced last week four bills designed to support the traveler security screening process and enhance the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence apparatus.
Officials touted the potential benefits the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency recently initiated an effort designed to increase collaboration between America and Honduras regarding combating irregular migration through Central America.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan has signed two... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced last week bipartisan legislation that would create a task force within the Department of Homeland Security.
The Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act is aimed at preventing foreign fentanyl and other opioids from entering the country. The... Read More »
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded Emergent BioSolutions a $6.3 million research grant for further development of the company’s treatment for opioid addiction.
Specifically, the funding is for the continued development of AP007, Emergent’s sustained-release nalmefene... Read More »
The federal government needs to take a public-health approach for at-risk individuals and strengthen partnerships with civilian researchers to combat the rise of violent far-right terrorism, according to William Braniff, a terrorism expert.
Braniff recently testified to the U.S. Senate Committee... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $67 million contract to BioFactura for the advanced development of its Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic to treat smallpox.
While smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, the threat of bioterrorism remains. To fill the... Read More »
Vienna, Austria-based Danube Tech GmbH has secured a $143,478 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) contract to develop blockchain security technology.
The award is funded through S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) Other Transaction... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has initiated Simplified Arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) as a means of modernizing international arrivals by matching travelers to documents using face comparison technology.
CBP is committed to implementing an integrated biometric... Read More »
Under a $30 million contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), three institutions have been selected to create new centers of immunology research to advance tuberculosis (TB) vaccine development.
The three... Read More »
A new report issued by leaders in international health says the world may face great risk from pathogens, including a rapidly moving, highly lethal pandemic projected to kill 50 to 80 million people and wiping out nearly 5 percent of the world’s economy.
High-impact respiratory pathogens, such... Read More »
A group of Florida lawmakers recently urged the Air Force to consider the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing for the next series of F-35 basing decisions.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was joined by Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL) and Mario... Read More »
The U.S. Senate advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) designed to enhance cybersecurity in the public and private sector.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act requires DHS to establish... Read More »
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar co-hosted Wednesday the “Meeting of Regional Ministers of Health on Ebola Preparedness and Response” during the 74th United Nations General Assembly.
Foremost on the ministers’ minds were the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the... Read More »
Scientists may have changed the way Chikungunya vaccines can be designed, produced, and stored, with the creation of a new type of synthetic vaccine that can be stored at warmer temperatures without the need for refrigeration.
The results of the vaccine study, published in Science Advances... Read More »
The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee recently advanced legislation that would establish a cybersecurity advisory committee to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Committee.
The goal of the advisory committee would be to advise and consult the director as well as... Read More »
The Department of Defense’s Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) awarded $20 million to Emergent BioSolutions Inc. for the development of an auto-injector to treat nerve agent-induced seizures.
The device, which will contain diazepam (5 mg/mL), is being designed for intramuscular... Read More »
Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center and the Illicit Finance and Proceeds of Crime Unit recently taught a darknet training course to more than 100 local and state law enforcement personnel in Colorado.
The goal was to provide information on darknet... Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine Jynneos to treat smallpox and monkeypox in adults.
It is the only currently FDA-approved vaccine for this disease.
“Following the global Smallpox Eradication Program, the World Health Organization certified the eradication of... Read More »
Since the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) began selling foreign partners defense items and services through its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, it has charged a transportation fee, but those account balances have now grown by more than 1300 percent, without guidance or proper adjustments.... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation designed to aid in securing the nation’s telecommunications supply chain.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) have joined Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY)... Read More »
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) leaders are expressing support for a recently signed public health order focusing on vaccine technology development, prioritization, and emphasizing vaccination importance.
President Donald Trump announced the executive order in advance of what is... Read More »
Lockheed Martin officials said flight tests of the firm’s Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter have determined the aircraft’s new tactical mission kit operates as designed, ensuring seamless transitioning to evaluation.
“This tactical mission kit leverages the knowledge we’ve gained... Read More »
