Countermeasures
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials noted the agencies are issuing a temporary final rulemaking 64,716 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas available.
The action applies to temporary nonagricultural workers for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The... Read More »
Lockheed Martin has detailed a successful conclusion of NASA’s Artemis I mission by the Orion spacecraft splashdown and recovery.
Per Lockheed Martin, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center performed... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently introduced the Healthcare for Our Troops Act, which seeks to provide premium-free medical insurance coverage for National Guard and Reserve members.
The legislation would provide premium-free, zero cost-sharing medical coverage... Read More »
Following its passage from the Senate last week, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act officially navigated both chambers of Congress, setting up changes to national security through new quantum computer defenses if signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The bill (H.R.7535) was... Read More »
Both the Coast Guard Authorization Act and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act have been added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2023, increasing their odds of passage and the chance for new maritime funding.
The NDAA advanced through the House last week... Read More »
Following a two-year investigation by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a new report detailed significant failures in the federal government’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall preparedness.
Released... Read More »
With a vote of 350-80, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) advanced out of the House last week, setting it up for further debate in the Senate.
"For the sixty-second consecutive year, Members of Congress have crossed party lines to deliver a defense... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently touted the passage of his legislation, the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, which now heads to the president's desk for signature.
The measure was co-sponsored by six Senate colleagues and is designed to strengthen Federal Emergency... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and seven colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the Biden administration's efforts to establish a global anti-satellite missile tests moratorium.
“Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are testing out new technologies and tools to protect transportation infrastructure both online and off.
Like most things today, that... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced this week that 16 of his key priorities have been included in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“I’m pleased to announce that several of my initiatives to further protect our homeland have been included in the FY 2023... Read More »
President Joe Biden is expected to sign newly advanced legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) this week, making the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) permanent and advancing how government invests in disaster mitigation projects... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, recently forwarded correspondence to Twitter CEO Elon Musk regarding insight into People’s Republic of China (PRC) social media influence.
The... Read More »
A partnership between VBI Vaccines Inc. and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) expanded this week with a new development agreement seeking the development of multivalent coronavirus shots for use against multiple coronavirus threats.
Based on VBI’s proprietary enveloped... Read More »
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a series of technology challenges for 2023 to spur commercial identity validation technologies to counter identity fraud when users apply for various services.
Potentially, this could help reduce... Read More »
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Academy (NFA) officials are espousing the benefits of the U.S. Arson Investigation Training program in Dubai slated for launch in 2023.
As a means of preparing for the program's formal launch, authorities noted U.S. Fire Administrator Lori... Read More »
The Army Applications Laboratory, U.S. Army Futures Command has awarded Sarcos Defense a $1 million contract earmarked for testing a robotic solution Sarcos developed for ammunition handling and maneuvering.
The Sarcos robotic ammunition handling solution utilizes a dexterous robotic arm... Read More »
Launch and space systems company Rocket Lab USA has created Rocket Lab National Security LLC (RLNS), a subsidiary the firm said would serve the defense and intelligence community.
RLNS is slated to deliver reliable launch services and space systems capabilities to the domestic government and its... Read More »
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID requirements looks to be delayed again after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intention this week to push it back to May 7, 2025, to give states more time to meet requirements.
“DHS continues to work closely with... Read More »
With President Joe Biden’s signature, the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act became law this week, launching a bipartisan measure that requires federal agencies to factor in disaster resilience for investments in and management of federal property and assets.
Extreme weather has picked up pace... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have outlined the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, from Feb. 4, 2023, through Aug. 3, 2024.
DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas noted the action stems from extraordinary and temporary conditions... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) is slated to conduct a second review of cybersecurity attacks connected to the global extortion-focused hacker group Lapsus$.
“The Cyber Safety Review Board has quickly established itself as an innovative and enduring... Read More »
Moving to increase supply chain visibility and more swiftly identify high-risk shipments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the beginnings of a pilot program known as the Global Business Identifier (GBI) last week.
Undertaken with 13 partner government agencies, the concept behind GBI... Read More »
Lockheed Martin officials are touting the security and aerospace company's initial delivery of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) battery to the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technology Office (RCCTO).
“Our collaboration with the U.S. Army enabled us to form a deeper understanding of its... Read More »
With its passage in the House last week, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act cleared its final legislative hurdle after having passed the Senate last summer.
If President Joe Biden signs the bills as expected, it will require federal agencies to create best practices,... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) have signed an agreement to improve law enforcement in Indian Country.
“The FBI is committed to ongoing, and continued collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “The... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced last week the Holding Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act to designate the Russian-based PMC Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization.
The bill – which also has a companion measure in the House led by U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, recently introduced the CBP Behavioral Health Act, which seeks to provide behavioral health support to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel working to secure the Southwest... Read More »
First Responder Network (FirstNet) officials are espousing the benefits of delivering more coverage and boosting capacity for Rhode Island first responders and the communities they serve.
Authorities noted FirstNet, built with AT&T, serves as the only nationwide, high-speed broadband... Read More »
In a move that will affect every jurisdiction in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that $3.2 billion will be issued to state, local, and territorial jurisdictions to strengthen their public health workforce and its infrastructure.
The... Read More »
Security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin is slated to support cyber readiness and training for up to 17,000 Army civilian cyber personnel via an Other Transaction Agreement.
Lockheed Martin's Mission Readiness & Reporting (MR2) cyber management solution enables the Army to identify,... Read More »
Following accusations that it had violated the False Claims Act by failing to provide certified cost or pricing data when negotiating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), PowerSecure, Inc. agreed to pay $8.4 million this week and settle the case.
PowerSecure was tapped to repair and... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has revealed the seven topics for its SBIR 23.1 Pre-solicitation.
“The SBIR program provides an opportunity for small businesses, including those that have never partnered with us before, to engage... Read More »
Boeing, an aerospace and defense company, recently announced that its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) satisfies all Navy requirements for initial operational capability status.
“The initial operational capability milestone marks the readiness of HAAWC for fleet... Read More »
Over the last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials reported that three methamphetamine and cocaine seizures at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry yielded narcotics with a street value of more than $14.4 million.
These events occurred on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17,... Read More »
