Countermeasures
U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Bob Latta (R-OH), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) recently introduced the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act, which seeks to permanently schedule fentanyl analogues while granting researchers the ability to conduct fentanyl substance... Read More »
United States Reps. Earl Carter (R-GA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) took a second go at introducing the Essential Medicines Strategic Stockpile Act (H.R.405) this week, seeking to create a pre-plotted list of generic medications essential for public health emergencies and cut dependence on China... Read More »
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said a recently released report and toolkit seeks to aid K-12 schools in protecting against cybersecurity threats.
CISA noted Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats provides insight into the current... Read More »
Air Force officials have detailed a Howard University partnership in which the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) will lead a University Affiliated Research Center.
The focus on military systems tactical autonomy technology earmarks $12 million annually for Howard University for five... Read More »
This week, U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CN), and Chris Murphy (D-CN) introduced two bills to increase protections against guns nationwide following another series of mass shootings in California.
Respectively, the bills proposed were the Assault Weapons Ban and the Age... Read More »
In its latest operational update, covering the final month of 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures showed a mix of figures, with overall encounters along the border increasing even as unlawful crossings fell and migration patterns shifted overall.
Large numbers of people... Read More »
Security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin noted the Directed Energy Interceptor for Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (DEIMOS) recently achieved first light, representing alignment with system design parameters.
The DEIMOS first light demonstration serves as a milestone to aid the Army... Read More »
Justice Department officials said Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr. has been appointed as the new Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).
“The Department’s COPS Office is central to our efforts to strengthen the public trust between communities and law... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted its recent examination of comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and oversight challenges has resulted in a series of recommendations to address the concerns.
The GAO has issued 335 public recommendations regarding cybersecurity and oversight since... Read More »
Last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) turned to the public for information on those responsible for a series of threats against and attacks on reproductive health service facilities nationwide – and it put up $25,000 in rewards for that information.
In all, 10 incidents were... Read More »
Following up on a group letter from July 2022, United States Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) last week called for Congressional action to block any proposed transfer of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and their components to Turkey.
Pallone and more than 30 House colleagues had urged the Biden administration... Read More »
As called for under the CARES Act stimulus bill of 2020, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an investigation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) oversight practices surrounding research into pandemic pathogens and found cause for concern.
While such... Read More »
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Science Applications International Corp. a $112 million contract to develop Cloud Based Command and Control (CBC2) for the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS).
The scope of work calls for SAIC to deliver command and control to the Department of the Air Force’s... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI) recently introduced the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act, which seeks to ban bump stocks permanently.
The bill stems from legal efforts to overturn the present bump stock regulatory ban. When attached to semiautomatic... Read More »
The United States Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) split $1.1 million between seven federal laboratories this week for federal research that could benefit Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions and homeland security stakeholders – and, potentially, find a market.
The latter... Read More »
As lawmakers process the passage of the government funding bill at the tail end of December 2022, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that major portions of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) were included in its... Read More »
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had a successful year in 2022, the agency reports, and commended personnel for several accomplishments.
“I am incredibly proud of our dedicated TSA employees who perform the critical task of securing our nation’s transportation systems each... Read More »
The Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $141 Million order for 414 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles A2 (FMTV A2).
The agreement also calls for the production of 56 FMTV trailers. The order serves increased force... Read More »
A new satellite built by Northrop Grumman Corporation for the United States Space Force (USSF) successfully launched this week, supporting the Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE) program and the USSF-67 mission.
Known as the LDPE-3A, this satellite was built using Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new process of deferred action requests for noncitizen workers victimized by or witnesses to the violation of labor rights, allowing them greater potential protections against exploitation.
The change in process will shift more scrutiny... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently expressed concerns regarding increased paramilitary vigilante groups patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border.
The senators forwarded correspondence to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) recently touted the benefits of $180,460,000 in additional Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) funding secured in the 2023 Government Spending Package.
According to Cartwright, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies chair,... Read More »
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is commending House of Representatives colleagues for advancing a measure prohibiting sending Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) products to China.
According to bill provisions, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22)... Read More »
Department of Defense (DoD) and Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials are commending recently signed Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E) and Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) agreements.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japan Minister of Defense... Read More »
As part of new methods to enhance border enforcement and expand tools for local immigration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week debuted a new scheduling function on the CBP One mobile application to allow appointment requests at land ports of entry.
Only specific land ports... Read More »
Despite being required to develop the ability to make at least 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) current plans fail to follow best practices, increasing the odds of costly increases and delays, according to an investigation from the... Read More »
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded a $12 million, Phase 2 contract to BAE Systems this week to develop a low-cost, all-weather, multi-mode seeker system for use with maritime targeting from air-launched platforms.
“Our new multi-mode modular seeker enables precision identification... Read More »
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) officials are espousing the benefits of the FedRAMP Authorization Act being enacted as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The Act organizes the FedRAMP program as the authoritative standardized approach to... Read More »
A new directive from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service determined that changes were needed and clarity provided for weighing the risks of vehicular pursuit but refrained from banning the practice.
The decision followed an extensive review of the agency’s past... Read More »
Justice Department officials have detailed a Southern District of Georgia federal indictment naming 76 defendants stemming from a drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang.
Authorities indicated the indictment includes allegations of multiple deaths from... Read More »
New York state officials are espousing the benefits of $35.2 million in new funding in support of statewide cybersecurity enhancements.
“The frequency, magnitude, and impact of cyber-attacks have increased, but we will continue to take bold measures to secure and protect New York’s critical... Read More »
Through an Executive Summary of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s report, released this week, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has put out both a warning of the dangers posed by growing wildfire issues and a series of recommendations and strategies for fighting back.
The USFA is a component of... Read More »
It was the worst Ebola outbreak Uganda had experienced in decades, but after 42 days – or two incubation periods – since the last case was reported, the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have declared the viral threat over.
“I... Read More »
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said 44 guns detected in carry-on luggage in 2022 at Philadelphia International Airport represent a record for the most guns caught at the security checkpoint.
“Our TSA officers are good at their jobs in helping to ensure that passengers get... Read More »
A delegation from the Senate headed to the United States-Mexican border this week in Texas and Arizona to explore issues related to security and humanitarian and economic challenges in the region and related to larger immigration concerns.
The group, which included U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CN),... Read More »
