U.S. Policy
With Americans on the cusp of receiving the first doses of COVID-19 vaccinations, experts from across the public health system on Wednesday recommended specific preparedness actions be taken to ensure that the vaccines will be distributed with the most equity and effectiveness.
“There have... Read More »
The board of directors of Invest in the USA (IIUSA), a national membership-based, not-for-profit trade association for the EB-5 Regional Center Program, on Tuesday voiced support for a proposed amendment to bipartisan legislation that would bolster integrity and reform measures for the EB-5... Read More »
Legislation requiring security standards for any Internet of Things (IoT) device purchased with government money was signed into law this week.
The IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act, introduced by Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL), requires the National Institute of Standards and... Read More »
The demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has continued to increase while supply has been limited by rapid consumption and supply chain disruptions, according to a new study by the Congressional Research Service.
The Congressional Research Service report – called COVID-19 and... Read More »
A recently released National Security Agency (NSA) Cybersecurity Advisory maintains Russian entities have exploited virtual workspace vulnerability in VMware products to access protected data on affected systems.
The advisory details the importance for National Security System (NSS), Department... Read More »
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and John Thune (R-SD) that will ensure more people receive emergency alerts.
The bill, the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act, would bolster the emergency alert... Read More »
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes provisions from the Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act, which looks to bolster the military’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
“The complexity of 21st-century warfare requires that our armed... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated eight Defense Production Act Title III actions as a means of retaining workforce capabilities throughout disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The action would also restore some jobs lost due to the pandemic while sustaining and strengthening... Read More »
Legislation that would create a National Cyber Director has been included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The bill to establish the position, the National Cyber Director Act, was introduced by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), the commissioner of the Cyberspace... Read More »
According to a new report by IBM Security X-Force, malicious cyber actors are targeting the COVID-19 cold chain, an integral part of delivering and storing a vaccine at safe temperatures.
Cyber attackers, posing as officials from biomedical companies, are sending phishing emails to executives... Read More »
The World Health Organization (WHO) is advocating equitable COVID-19 vaccine global access, noting that placing low and lower-middle-income nations (LLMICs) without access would cause significant economic damage.
The WHO-led ACT Accelerator serves a unique global collaboration supporting... Read More »
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced last week a measure they said is designed to address funding for a COVID-19 vaccine public advocacy campaign.
The bill would fund a science-driven public advocacy campaign, ensuring when an... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has introduced a bill that encourages medical manufacturers to keep their manufacturing operations in the United States.
The Mobilize America to Manufacture Equipment Required for Independence from Communist Adversaries Act (Mobilize AMERICA Act) would provide an... Read More »
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Department of Defense has made progress on efforts to improve the readiness and lethality of the U.S. Navy and Marines.
The significant readiness challenges have developed over more than a decade of conflict, budget uncertainty,... Read More »
The Army has awarded a $911 million contract to Oshkosh Defense to produce 2,738 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), 1,001 companion trailers, and associated kits.
The contract represents the second largest order of Oshkosh Defense JLTVs. The equipment will be supplied to the Army, Navy,... Read More »
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) has forwarded correspondence to President Donald Trump advocating for the full restoration of federal funding for the National Guard’s COVID-19 response efforts.
Bustos said the funding allotment is slated to expire at the end of the year.
“With the confirmed... Read More »
Public trust must be maintained in preparing for and responding to another large-scale biological event like the ongoing novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a former Trump administration emergency management expert told the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense on Monday.
Tom Bossert,... Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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. 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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
