Policy
US Air Force gathers experts to counter physiological episodes
A collection of data scientists, engineers, human physiologists, pilots, and other experts gathered under the guidance of the Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team (AF PEAT) this week with the goal of reducing physiological episodes. “Hackathons,” as it was called, are sprint-like... Read More »
Contract awarded for construction of California border wall
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently awarded a $287 million contract to SLSCO Ltd. to construct up to 15 miles of primary pedestrian replacement wall and up to 14 miles of secondary wall within the U.S. Border Patrol’s (USBP) San Diego, Yuma, and El... Read More »
First third-party canine team begins work
The first certified third-party canine team began screening air cargo for explosive devices last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said. The development of standards for the use of third-party canines for air cargo screening fulfills a requirement in the TSA Modernization... Read More »
Sen. Rubio urges defense secretary to headquarter US Space Command in Florida
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to outgoing U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis asking him to consider establishing the headquarters for the U.S. Space Command in Florida. Rubio supports the reestablishment of the U.S. Space Command under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force. Rubio... Read More »
New policy will return some immigrants to Mexico during processing
The United States has invoked Section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced last week, which states that anyone entering the United States from Mexico, either illegally or without proper documentation, can be returned to Mexico... Read More »
Blue Ribbon panel lauds Congress for passage of farm bill with provisions to protect food supply
The Farm Bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last week, includes recommendations proposed by the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense to protect the nation’s food and agriculture sector from biological attacks and outbreaks. Among the provisions in the Agricultural... Read More »
Congress passes cyber defense bills
A pair of cyber security bills introduced by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) advanced the Senate last week and will now head to the president’s desk for signature. Both bills aim to strengthen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cyber defenses, establishing both... Read More »
Energy Department warns against Chinese hackers
A group of Chinese cyber actors, known publicly as APT 10, is conducting a campaign of cyber-enabled theft targeting global managed service providers, cloud service providers, and their clients, the U.S. Government reported. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently said APT 10, which is... Read More »
Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act garners Senate approval
The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act has garnered Senate approval with lawmakers asserting the measure bolsters efforts to prevent terrorists from using vehicles to execute attacks. The measure directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a report to Congress regarding efforts... Read More »
GAO makes recommendations for how TSA manages pipeline security
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released 10 recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator regarding pipeline security efforts. The nation’s interstate pipeline system, which spans more than 2.7 million miles, is used to transport... Read More »
Legislative package introduced in House to bolster US cybersecurity
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a legislative package this week that provides Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel with the resources to combat global cyber security threat. The legislative package – called the SECURE Technology Act – combines three bills previously... Read More »
S&T Smart City IoT Innovation Labs developing smarter technologies for first responders, industry
With an eye on enhancing public safety in an increasingly interconnected era, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has created Smart City IoT Innovation (SCITI) Labs to collaborate and develop new and existing technologies. To date, these... Read More »
GAO offers cybersecurity recommendations to Homeland Security, Management and Budget
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a series of cybersecurity enhancement recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The GAO maintains until agencies more effectively implement the government's approach and... Read More »
Lockheed Martin awarded $585M contract
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $585 million contract to design, develop and deliver Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii (HDR-H) in Oahu, Hawaii. HDR-H radar will counter evolving threats by optimizing the defensive capability of the Ballistic Missile Defense... Read More »
Senate advances bill to increase use of unmanned maritime systems
The U.S. Senate advanced bipartisan legislation to increase the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) use of unmanned maritime systems. Unmanned maritime systems are remotely piloted or autonomously operated underwater vehicles that collect data. The bill, the Commercial... Read More »
First responders to receive INTERPOL drone guidelines
INTERPOL officials said the organization has established global drone use guidelines earmarked for first responders investigating device-based criminal incidents. Officials said drones and other technologies are more frequently being used to execute a range of crimes via surveillance,... Read More »
U.S. senators request firefighters be included in PFAS exposure study
As many communities struggle with the widespread problem of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of 23 U.S. senators has requested leading federal agencies include firefighters in a PFAS health impact study. The nationwide study, led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
Republican lawmakers introduce bill to put financial pressure on Iran
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced a bill that would counter Iranian money laundering and financing of terrorism. The Blocking Iranian Illicit Finance Act would protect the global financial system from Iranian illicit finance and impose... Read More »
Center urges Congress put on hold new Authorization for Use of Military Force
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is urging Congress to reevaluate oversight of the nation's wars before considering passing a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) decree. CAP recently released an analysis detailing the organization's position, noting the 17 years the AUMF has... Read More »
OPCW works with Qatari first responders to plan for 2022 FIFA World Cup
The international Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently helped Qatari first responders plan and prepare chemical emergency response for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The assistance was provided at the first International Workshop on Chemical Emergency Planning and... Read More »
GAO recommends DOD assess effectiveness of depot workforce
The Department of Defense (DOD) is struggling with a variety of workforce challenges that contributed to delays in the maintenance of some weapon systems, according to a recent United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluation. DOD maintenance depots employ around 80,000... Read More »
FirstNet welcomes new board, sets strategic direction
The First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority closed out their first operating year with the installation of new members to the board and the development of an enhanced strategic direction for the organization, marking significant progress for the authority’s public safety goal. “This has... Read More »MTI examines effectiveness of ‘See Something, Say Something’ programs
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 »
Reps. Chabot, Connolly sponsor global health security bill
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 »
Lawmakers oppose border wall funding near Arizona bombing range
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 »
GAO recommends improvements for DHS Office of Emergency Communications
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 »
House Homeland Security Chairman McCaul releases Terror Threat Snapshot
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 »
Biodefense Institute names new lab director
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 »
Joint NGO statement questions lack of resources for Biological Weapons Convention, highlights importance of engagement
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 releases 2017 National Incident-Based Reporting System crime data
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 »
Man arrested in connection with planned synagogue attack
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 »
DARPA to host meeting on electronic applications in defense
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 »
Immigrants with claims of fear increases in 2017-2018
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 »
Connell of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity speaks about the future of biosecurity research, ethics
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 »