Policy
GAO issues recommendations to improve COVID-19 efforts among federal agencies
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) made several recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic to increase transparency and accountability among federal agencies. The GAO report outlined that the United States has had more than 10 million cumulative cases of COVID-19 and... Read More »
ICE launches vaccine fraud initiative
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel said the agency has launched an initiative designed to address fraudulent COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The agency's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) initiated Operation Stolen Promise 2.0, which is designed to serve as the next... Read More »
FDA advisory committee to assess Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate this month
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tapped the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to investigate a second COVID-19 on December 17: mRNA-1273, a Moderna, Inc. candidate that fared well in clinical testing. Moderna recently announced the vaccine had... Read More »
Democratic Senators urge funding for states to distribute COVID-19 vaccine
A group of Democratic U.S. senators recently urged Congressional leaders to provide funding to ensure the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. With the news of at least one COVID-19 vaccine could be available to be distributed before the end of the year, many state and local governments... Read More »
United States contributes $7M for OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology
The U.S. government awarded $7 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to support the construction of the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology. The ChemTech Centre seeks to strengthen the OPCW’s capabilities to fully address new and emerging chemical... Read More »
ORS initiative nets Central America transnational crime charges
Department of Justice officials said an Operation Regional Shield (ORS)-centered effort recently resulted in charges against members of Central America transnational criminal organizations. Per authorities, the charges were primarily levied against MS-13 and 18th Street gangs in conjunction with... Read More »
CBP initiates New York biometric facial comparison technology
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said biometric facial comparison technology implementation at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, N.Y., enhances identity verification for lawful entry into the country. Authorities noted upon a traveler's arrival at a pedestrian lane or undergoing I-94... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Ernst, Tillis advocate expanded service member COVID-19 testing
U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are encouraging the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct rapid antigen COVID-19 tests of military service members, their families, civilians, and contractors. The effort stems from aiding in detecting asymptomatic virus carriers while... Read More »
BAE Systems secures USS Wasp contract
The Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $197.4 million contract to perform maintenance and modernization work aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. “BAE Systems is very familiar with USS Wasp, performing substantial upgrade work onboard before its forward deployment to Japan three years... Read More »
Ohio lawmakers request full federal funding for Ohio National Guard’s response to COVID-19
Ohio Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are urging federal officials to support Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s request to restore and extend full federal funding for the Ohio National Guard’s COVID-19 response mission. Since the pandemic hit, approximately 2,000 members of the Ohio... Read More »
CBP warns shoppers about the hazards of buying counterfeit terms this holiday season
With the onslaught of the holiday shopping season, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) remind shoppers how consumers can protect themselves from buying counterfeit goods and brand name “knock-offs.” “CBP’s primary mission is to protect... Read More »
Purdue Pharma pleads guilty to fraud, kickbacks
Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracies to defraud the United States and violate the anti-kickback statute. In a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney General’s office said the pharmaceutical company pleaded guilty... Read More »
Congress passes Internet of Things legislation
Last week, Congress passed an Internet of Things (IoT) legislation, establishing baseline standards for government-purchased Internet-connected devices. The Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act was introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), garnering unanimous House approval in September, with the... Read More »
Sen. Peters urges Trump administration to take action against foreign actors seeking to steal COVID-19 research
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) criticized the Trump administration for what he calls its lack of action against foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and North Korea, that have launched cyber-attacks against American hospitals and research institutions in an attempt to steal information... Read More »
Sen. Warner urges inclusion of ILLICIT CASH Act in National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is urging Congressional leaders to include his bill, the ILLICIT CASH Act, in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Warner’s bill -- the Improving Laundering Laws and Increasing Comprehensive Information Tracking of Criminal Activity in Shell... Read More »
GAO issues OMB, HHS supply chain recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding supply chain issues mitigation. While HHS is leading an effort to address medical supply chain issues related to the... Read More »
FDA schedules December advisory committee meeting to address Pfzer’s COVID-19 vaccine
Members of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will assemble on December 10 to discuss an emergency use authorization request for Pfizer, Inc.’s and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The candidate made... Read More »
Air Force narrows candidates for Space Command Headquarters to six locations
Six potential locations for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters have been selected by the Department of the Air Force, on behalf of the Office of Secretary of Defense. The six finalists include Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Patrick Air Force Base... Read More »
Disbrow named BARDA Director
Gary Disbrow has been named the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Disbrow has served as the Acting BARDA Director and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response since April... Read More »
Bill targets healthcare industry PPE shortages
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation designed to address healthcare industry personnel personal protective equipment shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) said the... Read More »
Pfizer, BioNTech submit for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccine with FDA
After displaying 95 percent efficacy in their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Pfizer and BioNTeach have filed a request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant them an emergency use authorization (EUA) that would allow its rollout next month. High-risk populations will be the first... Read More »
Pennsylvania urges implementation of Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza biosecurity
Pennsylvania state officials are encouraging the poultry industry to expedite biosecurity practices in the wake of East Asia and Europe reporting Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases. "Written biosecurity plans are good, but they are only effective when deliberately acted upon day in... Read More »
GOP lawmakers seeks information from CDC on lab capacity for COVID-19 research
Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are seeking information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on BioSafety Level (BSL)-3 and Animal BSL (ABSL)-3 laboratory capacity to conduct animal model research for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and... Read More »
Senators urge HHS, CDC to ensure that states have ultra-cold storage for COVID-19 vaccines
A group of Senate Democratic recently urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to work with state and local officials to identify gaps in ultra-cold storage capability, particularly in rural and underserved communities. This... Read More »
NTI, CENESS advocate sustainment of International Atomic Energy Agency initiative
A new Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) report seeks U.S. and Russia support in sustaining International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) work. The Future of IAEA Safeguards: Rebuilding the Vienna Spirit through Russian-U.S. Expert Dialogue resulted... Read More »
GAO reports Operation Warp Speed producing quick results, FDA transparency needed
A partnership between the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) known as Operation Warp Speed has accelerated efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, but transparency is lacking, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. Typically, vaccine... Read More »
Oregon lawmakers seek financial help from FEMA in fighting wildfires
Federal lawmakers from Oregon are requesting financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help offset the costs of fighting the wildfires. Specifically, they are asking FEMA to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective... Read More »
Report from U.S. Sen. Peters warns of vaccine distribution dangers posed by transition hold-up
Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States could be imperiled by President Donald Trump’s decision to fight a transition to the incoming administration under Joe Biden, a new report from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) warned this week. Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security... Read More »
Leading health organizations urge Trump administration to share COVID-19 information with Biden transition team
Officials from the nation’s leading health care organizations sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his administration’s full cooperation in sharing critical COVID-19 information with the Biden transition team. “As organizations representing the nation’s hospitals and health... Read More »
U.S. House approves 10 healthcare bills, including several targeting opioid crisis
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved 10 healthcare bills, including several aimed at tackling the nation’s ongoing opioid crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The measures advanced today aim to address some of the many challenges Americans are facing... Read More »
Reps. Thompson, King, and McCaul urge House leadership to expand committee’s jurisdiction over DHS
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the leader of the House Homeland Security Committee, is urging House leadership to support the expansion of the Committee’s jurisdiction to ensure it has the authority necessary to fully authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Thomas said the 9/11... Read More »
Report says violent crime decreased in jurisdictions that enacted police reform
According to the Center for American Progress, an independent thinktank, violent crime rates dropped in 10 jurisdictions that enacted comprehensive police reform. The group analyzed violent crime rates in 10 jurisdictions where the police department fulfilled a reform agreement with the U.S.... Read More »
Lawmakers support Air National Guard C-130 fleet
Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have joined colleagues in advocating for an Air National Guard C-130 aircraft fleet to support active duty missions and domestic emergencies. Duckworth and Durbin were among the 18 lawmakers penning and forwarding correspondence to the Armed... Read More »
Bolstered hate crimes data collection, reporting sought
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is advocating federal lawmakers and law enforcement agencies enhance hate crimes data collection and reporting in the wake of incidents rising. The ADL said the call to action stems from the FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report, determining 2019... Read More »