News
Lawmakers praise FBI for thwarting synagogue bombing
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently extended praise to the FBI for stopping an attempted synagogue bombing in Colorado. Reps. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick... Read More »
Lockheed Martin demonstrates laser weapon system for U.S. Air Force
Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated its ATHENA laser weapon system for the U.S. Air Force at the government test range at Fort Sill, Okla. ATHENA, which stands for Advanced Test High Energy Asset, is a high-energy, transportable laser system designed to provide a cost-effective, anti-drone... Read More »
DHS doing road tour for Small Business Innovation Research program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is embarking on a road tour to meet with small businesses. The National SBIR 2019 Road Tour will begin with stops in Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. “We are continually seeking new... Read More »
Leader of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons briefs UN
The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) briefed the United Nations Security Council on issues related to Syria’s chemical weapons last week. The UN officials expressed their support for the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the work of the... Read More »
Justice Department awards $95M for Tennessee public safety efforts
Three agencies under the Department of Justice umbrella have earmarked $95 million to support Tennessee public safety efforts. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funding allotment would target... Read More »
Senators urge Trump Administration to combat human trafficking
U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently sent a letter to members of the Trump administration urging the federal government not to do business with contractors that have forced labor or human trafficking in their supply chains of companies. Two... Read More »
Johns Hopkins named WHO Collaborating Center for health security
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has been designated as a Collaborating Center for Global Health Security by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Collaborating Centers are institutions that are selected to carry out activities and... Read More »
Techulon awarded funding to develop antimicrobial to kill drug-resistant bacteria
Techulon Inc. was awarded $785,000 to develop an antimicrobial that would kill drug-resistant bacteria by targeting specific genes critical to the bacteria’s survival. The funding was from Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) – a global non-profit... Read More »
Bill offers firefighter PFAS protection
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced Wednesday a bill to protect firefighters from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act of 2019 has... Read More »
Legislation targets terrorist organization use of illegal tobacco trade
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to address criminal and terrorist organizations’ use of the illegal tobacco trade to fund activities. The Combating the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Act, which authorizes the executive branch to deny development and security... Read More »
Stanford expands Ebola study to include new method of identifying pockets of viral persistence
A study conducted by Stanford University under contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been expanded to include new technologies capable of identifying viral reservoirs for both Ebola and Zika infections. The study is part of a larger international effort to research how... Read More »
KSU-developed model accurately predicted Ebola spread into Uganda
Researchers from Kansas State University say that a new risk assessment model for Ebola transmission accurately predicted the disease’s spread into the Republic of Uganda, opening the possibility of a better means of predicting disease spread. "This is a very new type of model," Caterina... Read More »
Savannah CBP detail seizes record cocaine shipment
Port of Savannah, Georgia, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a port-record 2,133-pounds of cocaine via scrap aluminum and copper being shipped from South America to Europe. “Drug Trafficking Organizations are relentless in their attempts to smuggle drugs into the... Read More »FLIR Systems launches newest handheld explosives trace detector
Industrial technology firm FLIR Systems has launched the latest version of its handheld explosives trace detector, maintaining the Fido X4 delivers sensitivity for a broad range of explosives. “Our new Fido X4 is mission-ready for all critical security applications – from high-volume... Read More »
Senate hearing puts spotlight on drugs, Chinese institutes at American universities
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on the importance of the Department of Homeland Security actively combating the influx of deadly drugs across the Southwest border. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a committee member, recently introduced new... Read More »
Experts meet in Africa to advance biosecurity in the region
More than 40 experts from nine Central African nations met in October at an event hosted by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advance biosafety and biosecurity in the region. The event, held in Libreville, Gabon, was the... Read More »
Senate bill would bolster science, cybersecurity education
A bipartisan bill designed to bolster science education and cybersecurity programs within various federal agencies was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act Incentivize recruitment of cybersecurity educators... Read More »
Twitter suspends content from accounts affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations
Twitter suspended content affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, following a request by members of Congress. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Max Rose (D-NY), sent a... Read More »
Sen. Markey blasts committee decision to exempt Pilgrim plant from certain regulations
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) blasted the decision by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to approve the exemption of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station from the regulations for emergency planning and preparedness. Markey, who serves on the committee, wrote to the Nuclear... Read More »
Department of Interior to stop using Chinese-made drones
The Department of Interior recently decided to halt the use of non-essential Chinese-made drones or drones made from Chinese components pending a review of the program. The exception would be drones used for emergency purposes. All of the department’s 810 drones have Chinese hardware, and... Read More »
DHS awards funding for security checkpoint operation enhancement
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said an Austin, Texas-based start-up has secured funding designed to enhance security checkpoint operations. S&T officials said the agency awarded $199,961.29 to Synthetik Applied Technologies to develop a... Read More »
Hawaii secures Air Force space squadron
The U.S. Air Force announced this week that the branch selected the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai to house the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron. Officials said the effort would create a new, highly technical squadron to monitor satellites in support of the... Read More »
CBP selects 11 potential partnerships to expand trade, travel services
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agreed to 11 tentative, reimbursable services agreements this week to boost cross-border trade and travel. The agreements are an expansion of the Reimbursable Services Program that has been in place since 2013. All are public-private partnerships that... Read More »
Biometric facial technology launches this month at Laredo border crossing
This month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will deploy biometric facial comparison technology at three of the 22 pedestrian lanes through the Laredo Port of Entry. The remaining lanes will have the technology installed during the first week of December. The technology works by... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to combat synthetic opioids
A bipartisan group of federal legislators introduced last week a bill to fight the spread of synthetic drugs. Synthetic drugs are re-engineered to circumvent federal laws designed to outlaw them. The Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act would allow substances... Read More »
Defense Department announces military bases for 5G testing
The U.S. Department of Defense announced the U.S. military installations that will be used to test 5G technology. The bases picked include Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington; Hill Air Force Base in Utah; Naval Base San Diego; and Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Ga. The four bases... Read More »
CISA urges heightened infrastructure security
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said infrastructure owners and operators are urged to be alert in accordance with November being designated National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month. Critical infrastructure (CI) plays an essential role in... Read More »
El Centro Sector Border Patrol highlights fiscal year 2019 efforts
El Centro Sector Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the division demonstrated a series of law enforcement achievements during fiscal year 2019. “El Centro Sectors results are attributed to the combined effort of our agents out in the field, new technology, and the border wall... Read More »
Researchers find evidence of bat-borne filovirus transmission to humans in India
Bat hunters in Nagaland, India, were found to have likely been exposed to filoviruses, according to a study from Duke-NUS Medical School researchers. Filoviruses are part of a family that includes things like Ebola and Marburg viruses. This case continues to highlight the risks such viruses pose... Read More »
DHS develops models to analyze nation’s readiness for chemical attack
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate recently developed a suite of models at its Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) to help federal agencies analyze threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences of potential chemical attacks. The Chemical Consequence and... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to preserve T-band spectrum for first responders
A group of Democratic U.S. Senators introduced a bill that would preserve access to T-band spectrum for emergency personnel. The bill – called Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act -- repeals a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which directed the Federal... Read More »
Senate hearing explores need for national 5G strategy
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing last week focusing on the secure rollout of 5G networks, supply chain risks associated with 5G equipment, and the need for a national 5G strategy. 5G is the industry term that refers to the latest evolution in mobile... Read More »
Global consortium introduces second vaccine trial in Ebola-stricken DRC
With the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded still ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the nation has opened itself to a second, large-scale vaccine trial backed by a global consortium. The new vaccine candidate was created by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and... Read More »
Sen. Brown touts public safety appropriations
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced last week that he helped secure important victories for the state that bolster public safety while also enhancing Ohio law enforcement under a recently approved Senate appropriations package. “One of the most important roles of government is keeping... Read More »