Countermeasures
Beginning last week, Aegis Sciences began testing for monkeypox at its laboratories in Nashville, Tenn., adding potential capacity for up to 10,000 tests per week to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) national Laboratory Response Network (LRN).
To achieve this, Aegis will... Read More »
A major provision of the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, or H.R. 7900) – which advanced from the House by a vote of 329-101 last week – addresses commercial wildlife markets and illegal wildlife trafficking.
An amendment to the act from U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley... Read More »
U.S. Reps. David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) recently applauded the House of Representatives for advancing the Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022 (H.R.6538).
The legislation would create an AMBER Alert similar system for active shooter incidents, which could be deployed during... Read More »
Bolstering the number of options for use against SARS-CoV-2, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) this week for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted.
This authorization greenlit the vaccine for use on those at least 18 years old and... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently detailed the successful execution of its first Operational Fires (OpFires) program flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The OpFires system accomplished all test objectives, including the initial use of a U.S.... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced this week the CONSULT Act, which aims to prevent Russian, Chinese, and other countries of concern from meddling with national security consulting firms.
CONSULT, or the Combating Obstructive National Security... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jim Risch (R-ID) recently introduced legislation to bolster southern border security initiatives.
The Solving the Border Crisis Act would resume southern border wall construction, strengthen management and enforcement capacities, and uphold the rule of... Read More »
Seeking to progress key homeland security agreements and objectives, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced expanded security cooperation with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Robert Silvers, Under Secretary for Policy at the DOE, penned security arrangements with... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have introduced a bill prohibiting countries such as China and Russia from purchasing U.S. agriculture companies.
The Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act also ensures the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is fully... Read More »
While the general focus has been on the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak also reversed years of progress in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AR), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a report released this week – "COVID-19:... Read More »
Lockheed Martin officials are touting the initial delivery of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270A2 launcher to the Army at the Precision Fires Center of Excellence in Camden, Ark.
"This delivery represents a significant milestone for Lockheed Martin, as the modernized system will... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) detailed the benefits of a collaboration addressing software vulnerabilities.
The effort is significant because software weaknesses are a prime... Read More »
Nipah virus became the newest target of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) this week, with the launch of a phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate an investigational vaccine from Moderna, Inc. and NIAID’s own Vaccine Research Center.
This potential vaccine was built... Read More »
Northrop Grumman Corporation recently touted the completion of a preliminary design review the firm said would result in a high-energy laser prototype for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
In March 2021, Northrop Grumman secured a $72 million DoD pact via the High Energy Laser Scaling... Read More »
With new and aggressive strains of COVID-19 continuing to emerge, such as the omicron subvariants BA.4/5, Moderna, Inc. has continued developing new means to counter them, including its booster candidate mRNA-1273.214, which recently delivered promising results.
One month after administration... Read More »
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it had secured 3.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax.
Working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), HHS said it acquired the doses as a way to provide additional protection options for... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded a $161,000 grant to Kenzen, Inc., based in Kansas City, Mo., to develop wearable technology to prevent heat-related injuries.
S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) targeted... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., based in El Segundo, Calif., has agreed to pay $9 million to resolve False Claims Act violation allegations.
According to the Justice Department, the settlement resolves a lawsuit filed and litigated by former... Read More »
States and jurisdictions will begin receiving another 144,000 doses of the Bavarian Nordic JYNNEOS vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) this week as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pivots to focus more heavily on monkeypox.
As of July 8, the Centers for... Read More »
New recommendations meant to overhaul U.S. research oversight for enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs) and life sciences dual-use efforts were submitted last week by a 34-member group of scientists, public health experts, and policy researchers.
These recommendations were submitted by... Read More »
Threat detection and security firm Smiths Detection announced that it has entered an agreement with Kromek to deliver wearable radiation detection equipment to North and South America.
“Smiths Detection is committed to deliver the best security screening solutions to our customers," Smiths... Read More »
In response to Afghanistan’s return to Taliban rule, U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced legislation last week – the Preventing Terrorist Transfers to Afghanistan Act – that would disallow the release of terrorism-aligned individuals to Afghanistan.
A similar... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently detailed the seizure of 1,342 pounds (609 Kilos) of cocaine left inside a smuggling vessel in El Paraiso Beach.
The estimated value of the narcotics discovered in northern Puerto Rico is $12.7 million - crediting the seizure to Border Patrol... Read More »
More than 50 participants from 19 countries gathered in Belgium last month for the first in-person meeting of the International Partnership for Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) in more than two years to tackle a tabletop exercise for verifying the transport and long-term storage of nuclear... Read More »
The U.S. Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) opened an experimental new facility known as the Chemical Security Laboratory (CSL) this week in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC).
Located at Aberdeen Proving Ground in... Read More »
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week that $122.5 million had been awarded through the State Aid for Police Protection (SAPP) program to expand resources for police departments statewide.
“Prioritized by our budget, this record 60% increase in funding will help police officers and the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to formally investigate TikTok and the platform's parent company, ByteDance.
Warner and Rubio, respective chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,... Read More »
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) recently released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) providing information on Maui ransomware.
The Maui ransomware has been used by North... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Young Kim (R-CA) have introduced a bill that seeks to ensure efficient delivery of domestic defense equipment sold to Taiwan and Indo Pacific allies.
The Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act (H.R. 8259) would track transfers while reaffirming congressional... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), and Anthony G. Brown (D-MD) recently filed a fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment providing the District of Columbia mayor D.C. National Guard control.
The legislators introduced the filing at the... Read More »
As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues unabated, despite hundreds of deaths and months of economic sanctions, some lawmakers in the United States have begun looking to the future, with a resolution committing the United States to rebuild the ravaged Ukraine.
Essentially, the bill would... Read More »
As part of a competitive search for climate-friendly cooling solutions in the face of extreme heat conditions, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $195,000 to winners of the Cooling Solutions Challenge this week.
Participants worked on innovative solutions to heat, inventing... Read More »
Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal has placed a $216 million order with Oshkosh Defense for 513 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and 1,152 (JLTV-T) trailers.
The vehicles and trailers would supply the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the Armed Forces of... Read More »
Responding to the more than 450 cases of monkeypox reported in the United States as of July 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered another 2.5 million doses of Bavarian Nordic’s JYNNEOS vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox.
The case count held at 459 at the end of... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently unveiled an updated version of its mobile app, which now provides users with increased personalization options while aiding disaster safety efforts.
“FEMA is committed to providing families with the tools and information they need to keep... Read More »
