Countermeasures
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released last week a report examining long-range emerging national security threats, with federal agencies identifying 26 potential harms within four categories.
The category breakdown is comprised of adversaries' political and military advancements,... Read More »
The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University recently examined the global effectiveness of “See Something, Say Something” programs in preventing terrorist attacks on public surface transportation and discovered the programs prevent between 10 percent and 14 percent of... Read More »
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) will expand its efforts to counter global catastrophic biological risks over the next three years thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the Open Philanthropy Project.
To expand its efforts, NTI hired Jaime Yassif as senior fellow to serve in its biosecurity... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation Thursday that seeks to reaffirm U.S. commitment to promoting global health security.
The Global Health Security Act would codify how the United States prepares for and responds to public health threats. Typically,... Read More »
A new diagnostic test could hold the key to identifying Ebola infections in less than 30 minutes, streamlining detection and potential management of outbreaks in even the most low-resource areas.
The test is based on a protein detection technology known as SERS. It’s portable, works with... Read More »
A group of lawmakers is opposing a proposal to use Department of Defense funds to build border wall barriers along the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona.
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) maintain assessing further upgrades of the... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate and the Department of Energy (DOE) Pacific Northwestern National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed VitalTag, technology that can assist medical first responders in monitoring the vital signs of victims in a mass... Read More »
A review of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the office could improve upon its communication methods with stakeholders.
The OEC offers a range of services and assistance to first... Read More »
The U.S. Coast Guard seized a 35-foot vessel carrying 1,150 kgs of cocaine after it experienced engine trouble and caught the attention of an Air and Marine Operations (AMO) tracker crew.
Though the three individuals on board attempted to jettison fuel barrels and bails once they noticed the... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) released this week the latest Terror Threat Snapshot, which assesses efforts highlighting growing threats to America, the West, and the world.
The report included details of the Nov. 1 deportation of Dias Muratovich Kadyrbayev, 24,... Read More »
The Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) recently named George W. Korch, Jr. as lab director of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC).
Korch is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has a Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious... Read More »
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Imperial College London are partnering to develop a vaccine that fights against multiple viral pathogens.
The self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform called RapidVAC enables tailored—just-in-time—vaccine production against multiple... Read More »
A collection of more than 40 individuals and non-governmental organizations have endorsed a joint NGO statement to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), following its 2018 Meeting of States Parties and first annual Global Forum on Scientific Advances Important to the BWC.
That statement began... Read More »
FBI officials have released information regarding law enforcement agency use of its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2017, noting the transition to the more informative crime reporting system.
Authorities cited the system's more detailed data collection capabilities, stating... Read More »
An Ohio man has been arrested and charged in connection with plans to launch an attack on a synagogue in Toledo, according to Department of Justice officials.
Damon M. Joseph, 21, of Holland, Ohio, was charged in federal court with one count of attempting to provide material support to the... Read More »
In an effort to tackle obstacles facing electronics advancement of the last 50 years, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently launched phase two of its Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI).
ERI is a five-year, $1.5 billion program to tackle obstacles facing advanced... Read More »
The number and percentage of aliens seeking admission or unlawfully entering the United States who assert fear of persecution or apply for asylum have increased, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Those who claim fear or seek asylum, believe they will be harmed if they are... Read More »
Thirty years ago, Nancy Connell was working to get thousands of scientists, including Nobel laureates, to sign a pledge presented at the United Nations, an agreement that said they would not knowingly engage in research that would lead to the development of a biological weapon.
Connell was a... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign is sharing resources with United Airlines in a new partnership meant to counter human trafficking.
Under this joint endeavor, the Blue Campaign’s awareness materials will be co-branded with United Airlines and used to support that... Read More »
The DHS Data Framework Act, which seeks to unify protective measures for the country’s information-sharing system, was recently advanced by the U.S. Senate.
“We live in an increasingly connected world and must be able to get the right information to the right people at the right time in... Read More »
In the wake of damage to Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) caused by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. Air Force is recommending the base be rebuilt to house the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
Air Force officials are advocating Congress use supplemental funding for rebuilding the base, noting a preliminary... Read More »
The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced last week the agency will be launching an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program, which will be comprised of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, and the licensed NYPD officers in the Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) who will operate... Read More »
While electromagnetic pulses (EMP) are often devastating to the survival capabilities of various electronic devices, Sandia National Laboratories has been conducting tests on an EMP generator to determine the effects and capabilities of various devices.
The ElectroMagnetic Environment Simulator... Read More »
Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced last week a bill that would fully fund the border wall southern section.
The four legislators said the WALL Act also serves as the first bill that will fund the wall by identifying specific funding... Read More »
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently introduced a bill designed to bolster cybersecurity efforts by requiring a cyber-vulnerabilities disclosure program (VDP) to address deficiencies.
The Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act would require the Department of Homeland... Read More »
BAE Systems recently was awarded two indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts totaling more than $150 million with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD).
Both contracts support the sustainment and rapid integration of command, control, communications, computers,... Read More »
GeoNorth Information Systems (GNIS), in collaboration with the University of Alaska and Lockheed Martin, will survey the Arctic region under contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for the next five years.
The $15-million contract will see Lockheed Martin’s scalable... Read More »
The Senate advanced Wednesday the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA), which serves as a policy framework to enhance American leadership in the Indo-Pacific region.
The measure, authored by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), also... Read More »
Six U.S. senators introduced a resolution Wednesday that holds Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman accountable for contributing for a variety of actions including the unjustified killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lindsey Graham... Read More »
U.S. Reps Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA), introduced legislation Monday that provides resources to develop cybersecurity education programs at technical schools.
The Cybersecurity Education Integration Act would establish a competitive grant program to add cybersecurity into new... Read More »
A coalition of national organizations representing public health, healthcare providers, biotechnology companies, and researchers this week urged congressional leaders to swiftly approve the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation (PAHPAI) Act of 2018 before Congress adjourns... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration released Tuesday its first Cybersecurity Roadmap, a guide that prioritizes the administration’s cybersecurity efforts.
The guide highlights efforts both within the TSA and the transportation systems sector. It is part of the 2018-2026 TSA Strategy... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) announced Tuesday his support for criminal justice reform legislation recently proposed in Congress.
The First Step Act (S.3649) would reduce federal recidivism and crime, prepare inmates for a successful return to society, enhance prison security and officer safety,... Read More »
More than 20 scientists from five continents led by Montana State University will study bats in Australia, Bangladesh, Madagascar, and Ghana to research disease prevention.
Scientists hope to uncover the complex causes of bat-borne viruses and what has led them to jump to humans, fueling... Read More »
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed another 10 million Canadian dollars for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) this week, in an effort to bolster the development of vaccines.
The announcement was made following the recent G20 summit and supports that body’s... Read More »
