News
INTERPOL exercise in Southeast Asia nets arrests, seizures
The International Criminal Police Organization, or INTERPOL, conducted a security exercise in Southeast Asia that led to various arrests and seizures of illegal goods. The exercise, dubbed Operation Anchor, featured law enforcement agencies in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam... Read More »
Four separate drugs show promise in fighting through Ebola
Study leaders who put to the test four separate experimental therapies for use against Ebola virus disease (EVD) say that all have proven effective after halting a clinical trial of the treatments in August. “Response teams have faced unprecedented challenges in ongoing efforts to save lives... Read More »
KBR secures Defense Health Agency cybersecurity agreement
Engineering, construction, and private military contracting firm KBR has secured a $216 million Defense Health Agency (DHA) task order to provide cybersecurity services. “KBR believes our military men and women deserve the best possible care," Byron Bright, president of KBR Government... Read More »
GAO offers climate resilience recommendation
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued Congress a recommendation regarding climate resilience, maintaining a strategic investment approach for high priority projects could aid the resource targeting process. The GAO’s position is Congress should consider establishing a federal... Read More »
Rep. Cole supports creation of task force to tackle violence against Native American women
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) released a statement last week supporting the creation of an interagency task force tasked with addressing the high rate of missing and murdered Native American women and girls. Native American women in certain tribal communities are 10 times more likely to be murdered... Read More »
Cleveland medical startup to develop AI for detecting tuberculosis
Artificial Intelligence could help medical experts detect tuberculosis (TB) in patients if Cleveland-based Diascopic LLC can successfully bring their diagnostic technology to market. Aiding them in this endeavor is a federal business innovation grant -- the National Institute of Health Small... Read More »
New Mexico violent crime, domestic terrorism examined
A group of New Mexico federal and state elected officials recently met in Santa Fe to address potential action to decrease violent crime and domestic terrorism risks in the state. Officials said U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) joined New... Read More »
CBP Buffalo Field Office seizures rising, report finds
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency’s Buffalo Field Office has experienced a 30 percent increase in narcotic seizures in 2019 over fiscal year 2018. “The employees in the Buffalo Field Office work vigilantly throughout the year to protect our borders,” Richard... Read More »
Michigan congressional delegation urges Air Force to pick Selfridge for F-35A base
Members of the Michigan congressional delegation are urging the new Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett to select Selfridge Air National Guard Base to host the Air National Guard’s next F-35A operational base. In a letter to Barrett, 14 members of Congress from Michigan highlighted the... Read More »
DHS lists 25 most dangerous software errors
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a report detailing the 25 most dangerous software errors. DHS’s Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI) updated a list of the errors that can lead to serious vulnerabilities in software. “This list is an... Read More »
Border officers seize more than 2,400 rounds of ammunition
A joint enforcement effort by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security Investigations recently seized more than 2,400 rounds of ammunition at the Boquillas border crossing between Big Bend National Park in Texas and Mexico. An NPS ranger... Read More »
DHS to hold informational event for canine training experts
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will host an event for people interested in learning about funding opportunities in the detection canine field. The event, which is focused on advancing detection canine research and development, is part of a... Read More »
NATO committee discusses electronic warfare strategies
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its Electronic Warfare Advisory Committee (NEWAC) meeting this week to discuss electronic warfare (EW) and strategies and initiatives to counter it. Electronic warfare (EW) is a military action that exploits electromagnetic energy to provide... Read More »
Funds target local opioid addiction intervention
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has earmarked $4.5 million in grants to aid efforts to address the opioid crisis on the local level. “Since day one, the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government approach has aimed to accomplish one overarching goal: prevent... Read More »
FLETC touts benefits of Marine Law Enforcement Training Program
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) officials are touting the benefits of its Marine Law Enforcement Training Program (MLETP), providing water safety courses to mentally prepare officers for field survival. “It is about keeping your wits about you…and surviving a situation... Read More »
International Conference of the States Parties address progress, direction of Chemical Weapons Convention
The 24th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is gathering this week in The Hague to address new projects, encourage cooperation, and chart the progress of their shared endeavor. “The recent use of chemical weapons, as well as the potential... Read More »
America’s land grant universities poised to support nation’s agro-defense efforts
The nation’s land grant universities play an important role in helping the federal government bolster agro-defense, according to scientists, policymakers, industry and academic leaders who participated in a recent Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense event held at Colorado State University... Read More »
Senators advocate for increased election security funding in 2020 budget
A group of 39 Democratic senators recently sent a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging the panels to better fund election security. The senators requested funding for election security grants and for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in the... Read More »
Senate advances bill to form National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium
The U.S. Senate approved legislation that would formally charter a National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC). The consortium would include the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the University of Arkansas, the University of Memphis, and... Read More »
Senate advances bill promoting stronger cybersecurity coordination between DHS, state and local governments
With the advancement of U.S. Sens. Gary Peters’ (D-MI) and Rob Portman’s (R-OH) State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act, the Senate has signaled encouragement to federal authorities to coordinate better with state and local governments. “State and local governments with limited... Read More »
Sen. Tester criticizes FBI for failing to protect Indian Country
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to the FBI critical of the agency’s efforts to keep Indian Country safe and aid local jurisdictions regarding crimes outside of a reservation. “The violence that Native people experience does not stop at Indian reservation borders and... Read More »
CBP implementing El Paso facial biometric technology
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently introduced biometric facial comparison technology at the El Paso Port of Entry as a means of enhancing security and streamlining travel. “CBP uses biometric facial comparison technology to create a secure and seamless traveler experience at U.S.... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions shows positive results in chikungunya virus clinical trials
Emergent BioSolutions announced the updated results of its Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of its chikungunya virus virus-like particle (CHIKV VLP) vaccine candidate across a series of dosing regimens. The interim analysis showed that after the first dose, up to... Read More »
CDC permits partial operations at DOD’s lead lab for medical biological defense research
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently approved the reopening and partial operations of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) lead laboratory for medical biological defense research. This... Read More »
Winners announced in NIST first responders challenge
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division recently announced the winners of its Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge. Haptic interfaces produce sensory cues in equipment or devices. For example, vibrations in... Read More »
Senators concerned about issuance of export licenses related to Huawei
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were among a group of U.S. Senators that expressed their concerns that the U.S. Department of Commerce has started issuing export licenses to U.S. firms to do business with Huawei Technologies. Huawei, the Chinese telecom company, was added to the... Read More »
DHS holds active shooter exercise to test smart building sensor capabilities
During a live active shooter exercise at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) evaluated a suite of in-building sensors. The exercise demonstrated how smart building technologies could inform daily operations and improve public safety and... Read More »
Hruby, Seydel join Nuclear Threat Initiative board
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) officials said Jill Hruby and Laura Turner Seydel have joined the organization’s Board of Directors, “We are so pleased to welcome these outstanding leaders to NTI’s board,” Ernest J. Moniz, NTI co-chair and CEO, said. “Jill brings tremendous technical... Read More »
CBP, counterparts explore Enhance Preclearance efficiency, effectiveness
Efforts to enhance Preclearance efficiency and effectiveness served as the prime focus during the recent Preclearance Port Directors Summit in Abu Dhabi. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials met with counterparts from the Department of State and the United Arab Emirates personnel during... Read More »
Security Centers of Excellence develop tools to combat criminal organizations
Three Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence have developed open-source tools to help the U.S. government combat transnational criminal organizations (TCO) and drug cartels in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Researchers examined foreign government documents for the... Read More »
Sens. Moran, Cortez Masto sponsor bill to research deepfakes
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced a bill to fund research into ways of detecting “deepfakes.” Deepfakes are online videos that are manipulated to realistically mimic a person’s identity. This legislation would seek to raise awareness of deepfakes... Read More »
Senate banking Committee advances bill to extend terrorism risk insurance
The Senate Banking Committee advanced legislation to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The program – created after Congress passed the Terrorism Risk... Read More »
NIAID report finds increased eastern equine encephalitis poses national threat
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have begun to recognize eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus as an emergent threat, as an especially deadly year in the United States winds to a close. As of Nov. 12, there were 36 confirmed cases of EEE across eight states,... Read More »
DoD awards $48.9M to universities for major research equipment
Department of Defense (DoD) officials said the agency has earmarked nearly $49 million for university research endeavors through the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). “These awards provide research infrastructure to enable the most creative scientific minds in the... Read More »