DoD opens Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to feedback
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week published a proposed rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, designed to keep defense contractors compliant with information protection requirements and the protection of sensitive data. Applicable to both contractors... Read More »
Justice Department settles case with North Carolina towing company over violations of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
The owner and operator of Goines Towing & Recovery in North Carolina settled with the Justice Department this week to resolve allegations he violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) in towing and selling servicemembers’ vehicles without disclosing that fact to the court. Billy Joe... Read More »
Senate advances bills to overhaul, expand U.S. weather radio system and alerts
With the U.S. Senate voting unanimously last week to pass the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio Modernization Act (S.1416) and the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act (S.1414), the House holds the future of the nation’s weather radio network... Read More »
South Dakota lawmakers call on Interior Secretary to coordinate on resources for tribal law enforcement
Following up on a letter from June that requested additional support for tribal law enforcement agencies in South Dakota, federal lawmakers from the state last week urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to coordinate those resource issues with other federal departments. U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds... Read More »
BARDA awards $117M contract for clinical trial of three ARDS novel therapeutics
A $117 million contract for the simultaneous evaluation of three novel therapeutics to treat hospitalized adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) went to PPD Development, LP, care of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) last week. BARDA, as... Read More »
Boeing delivers first fully autonomous undersea Orca vehicle to U.S. Navy
Following acceptance testing earlier this month, Boeing delivered the first of its new autonomous Orcas – extra large unscrewed undersea vehicles (XLUUV) – to the United States Navy this week, potentially pushing the boundaries of long duration missions. The vehicles are capable of... Read More »
FEMA announces second, $150M funding opportunity for natural hazards-focused capitalization grants
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in-hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a second funding opportunity for its Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to provide capitalization grants to disaster-vulnerable communities. Meant to help... Read More »
Senate bill proposes new reporting requirements for attacks on law enforcement
With the introduction of the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act this week, five senators sought to increase the information that can be supplied about anti-police attacks and explore their impacts on officers’ mental health. According to the group, it would... Read More »
Sen. Peters calls out cumbersome terrorist screening practices, recommends changes for civil liberties
A new report released by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called out cumbersome traveler screening among federal agencies and insufficient oversight of discrimination. The report was looking into the terrorist watchlist... Read More »
BARDA obtains 85th FDA regulatory approval for supported products
It has been a busy year for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which announced this week its 85th Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory approval for supported products – and brought its total approvals and clearances for the year to 20. “BARDA has... Read More »
Report deems 2022 midterm elections free of foreign compromise by Departments of Justice, Homeland Security
A report on the 2022 United States midterm election was declassified and released jointly by the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) this week, prominently stating that no foreign government-affiliated actor was found to have compromised the integrity of that... Read More »
TSA partners with Amtrak, Transport Canada for international exercise on cross-border system threats
In a first for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency joined an exercise in Canada with Amtrak and Transport Canada last week to address surface and critical infrastructure threats to cross border systems. They held an exercise scenario developed by TSA’s Surface... Read More »
Congress authorizes speedy transfer of seven C-130 aircraft to help California fight wildfires
After significant lobbying by the Newsom administration, Congress last week authorized and hastened the transfer of seven United States Coast Guard-owned C-130 aircraft to CAL FIRE, for California’s use in fighting wildfires. “These are aircraft that can mobilize quickly and attack... Read More »
Treasury Department sanctions Malas Mañas organization over human smuggling, drugs trafficking
In response to a report by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Malas Mañas transnational criminal organization (TCO) over its human smuggling and drug trafficking at the southwest border. The action... Read More »