News
Graham, Waltz urge State Department to designate Taliban as terrorist organization
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) introduced resolutions Tuesday urging Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to designate the Afghan Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The resolution introduced into both chambers of Congress calls for freezing the Government of... Read More »
KBR, Adarga form AI partnership
Global technology firm KBR has formed a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) analytics software developer Adarga as a means of bolstering defense and national security initiatives, officials said. Authorities indicated the collaboration would result in the integration of Adarga's AI... Read More »
DHS funds earmarked for explosives, drugs detection
South Dakota-based Synthetik Applied Technologies, LLC has secured a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program award to develop explosives and illicit drugs detection technology. Officials indicated Synthetik Applied Technologies, LLC was selected... Read More »
DHS funds earmarked for UAS counter research
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has earmarked over $1 million for research on countering potential unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threats. The funding allotment to the University of North Dakota (UND) stemmed from the efforts of Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) as a member of the Senate Homeland... Read More »
Maryland lawmakers applaud FEMA grant for public health emergency preparedness
A group of Maryland lawmakers applauded President Joe Biden for granting their request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). U.S. Reps. John Sarbanes (D-MD), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Dutch Ruppersberger... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions, Providence Therapeutics sign development, manufacturing agreement for COVID-19 vaccine
Gaithersburg, Md.-based Emergent BioSolutions Inc. and Canadian vaccine company Providence Therapeutics said on Tuesday they have entered into a $90 million, five-year development and manufacturing agreement to support Providence’s COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine candidate. Already... Read More »
DoD updates guidance on procurement and operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
As of last week, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) updated guidance for the procurement and operation of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, incorporating new commercial technological advancements and emphasizing threats of small and foreign UAS. Deputy Secretary of... Read More »
Lawmakers urge Biden to reduce role of nuclear weapons
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and other Congress members urged President Joe Biden to limit the role of nuclear weapons in the country’s national security. In a letter to the President, the group pointed to Biden’s longstanding commitment to reducing the role of nuclear weapons, and... Read More »
Boeing tests advanced missile defense system
Boeing officials joined Missile Defense Agency (MDA) personnel in touting the recent successful demonstration of an advanced interceptor capability for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The exercise would assist in achieving the overarching goal of defending the nation from... Read More »
Bechtel details chemical weapons destruction campaign
Bechtel officials said the engineering, construction and project management company recently destroyed the final inventory of projectiles containing mustard agent. The company's Kentucky team initiated the third of five chemical weapons destruction initiatives completed at the Blue Grass... Read More »
BAE Systems secures DARPA aircraft design pact
BAE Systems officials said the firm has secured a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract to design a full scale demonstrator aircraft concept with Active Flow Control. “BAE Systems has been at the forefront of digital design for more than 20 years," Tom Fillingham, senior... Read More »
NY Gov. Hochul announces $40 million Biodefense Commercialization Fund
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that her state would open up a $40 million Biodefense Commercialization Fund to support the state’s growing Life Science industry. The fund would provide grants to companies within the state working to bring to market infectious disease solutions... Read More »
Funds target World Trade Center health program for first responders
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) is touting the inclusion of $2.86 billion for the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program in the Build Back Better Act. Officials said the funds would be included in the Energy and Commerce Committee’s portion of the measure, which is slated to be... Read More »
Public Health AmeriCorps launched by AmeriCorps and CDC to invest in public health experts
With the COVID-19 pandemic as a constant reminder of the importance of public health efforts, AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week announced a joint recruitment and training effort for public health experts known as Public Health AmeriCorps. That program... Read More »
KBR touts successful air defense system demonstration
Global technology firm KBR is espousing the benefits of its recent successful demonstration of its Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) Combat Shoot-Off (CSO) system. Army soldiers executed a series of vignettes demonstrating laser-equipped Stryker capabilities against... Read More »
Moderna signs multi-year COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing agreement with National Resilience
Under the terms of a new, multi-year agreement reached this week between Moderna and National Resilience, National Resilience will produce mRNA for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines at its Mississauga, Ontario facility. “Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has saved countless lives, and we’re excited... Read More »
Sandia National Lab designs modular radiation monitors for U.S. ports
Sandia National Laboratory’s modular radiation detection monitors will decrease costs and enhance threat detection, officials say. As part of an effort to replace and upgrade the aging radiation detection systems at ports across the country, the Department of Homeland Security tasked Sandia... Read More »
Lawmakers lament Taliban cabinet appointments
A pair of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, expressing disapproval of the Taliban’s recently announced cabinet appointees. Reps. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and August Pfluger (R-TX),... Read More »
Homeland Security chemists invent test for detecting cyanide exposure during fires
In the hunt for a solution to one of burning buildings’ most dangerous effects, chemists from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) have created a test that could help firefighters identify whether civilians have been exposed to toxic... Read More »
Legislation introduced in House to set five year, presidentially appointed term for CISA director
A group of United States representatives introduced the CISA Leadership Act this week, a bill that proposes to codify a five year term for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director and reaffirm the position as presidentially appointed, but Senate confirmed. While CISA... Read More »
Davis, LaHood announce 183d wing base project as part of National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) announced Friday that their request for a Illinois National Guard project will be included in the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA passed out of the House Armed Services Committee with a bipartisan 57-2 vote, and... Read More »
Lawmakers seek Afghanistan evacuation guidance
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking guidance regarding the evacuation of Americans and others from Afghanistan. Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Zoe Lofgen (D-CA), and Jerry Nadler... Read More »
Report: 20 years after 9/11, America still not fully prepared for public health emergencies
A new report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has found that 20 years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, America is not fully prepared for public health emergencies. The report, 2021 Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases,... Read More »
Measure targets U.S-Israel AI development
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to establish a U.S.-Israel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Center. Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Mike Waltz (R-FL) presented the legislation as a... Read More »
Caucus targets U.S.-spearheaded global vaccination effort
A group of lawmakers launched the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus, which they said would advocate for vaccines as a means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) along with... Read More »
DoD uses option to acquire 200,000 doses of Valneva’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine
As part of a contract signed with Valneva SE last year, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has decided to utilize an option that will increase supply of the company’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IXIARO, to a minimum of 200,000 doses. Japanese encephalitis is a deadly infectious... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense lauds Biden’s Pandemic Preparedness Plan, but urges more funding
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense last week applauded the Biden Administration’s work on a new $65.3 billion American Pandemic Preparedness Plan for investments to combat the next biological threat, though it argues that greater funding is necessary to make sufficient plans. The White... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee advances bill to give D.C. mayor control over D.C. National Guard
In a national first, the House Armed Services Committee voted last week in favor of a bill that would grant the mayor of the District of Columbia authority over the D.C. National Guard, adding that provision to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Since its inception, the D.C. National... Read More »
Package of 11 AI amendments added to 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
Science fiction is becoming fact, according to United States Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) -- and as a result, he and fellow U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have successfully added 11 artificial intelligence (AI)-focused amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. While... Read More »
DARPA sensor system transitions to Air Force
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said a sensor system developed under the Arrays at Commercial Timescales - Integration and Validation (ACT-IV) program has transitioned to the Air Force. DARPA indicated Northrop Grumman, which serves as the ACT-IV program primary research... Read More »
TSA to acquire additional CT x-ray scanners
Analogic Corporation has secured a $198 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agreement to secure mid-sized Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for TSA checkpoints. “This award is another important step in enhancing aviation security,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske... Read More »
Argonne National Lab collaborations yield better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 proteins
Thanks to collaborations with commercial and academic research partners alike, the Argonne National Laboratory has published new research showing the capabilities of artificial intelligence and simulation workflows to provide insight to the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome and potentially fuel drug... Read More »
House bill proposes support for Americans affected by mysterious Havana Syndrome
A new House bill introduced by United States Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) -- the Havana Syndrome Service Member Support Act -- seeks to provide aid for those with Havana Syndrome-induced brain injuries and initiate federal efforts to address related... Read More »
Phase 3 trial begins for SK bioscience and GSK COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Approximately 4,000 people from all over the world will be enrolled in a Phase 3 trial of a combined SK bioscience and GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate beginning this week. The trial will combine the SK COVID-19 vaccine candidate GBP510 with GSK’s pandemic... Read More »