News
GAO: Crew shortfalls remain problem to Navy readiness
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Navy has taken steps to address fatigue in its ranks – an ongoing problem that has plagued its ranks for years, even contributing to fatal ship collisions. Essentially, this was a follow-up to an analysis conducted in 2021,... Read More »
Bipartisan Operation Swords of Iron bill proposed to appropriate $2B for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system
Although the House remains paralyzed in the face of a Republican rift that has left the Speaker position empty, four representatives crossed the aisle this week to introduce the “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act to buoy Israeli defenses. The bill followed... Read More »
New York increases security measures for Jewish community in wake of Israel-Palestine War
Following the weekend’s surprise attack on Israel that kicked off a brutal war of reprisals between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced new steps to provide security for the state’s Jewish community. Fearing the spread of violence to Jewish... Read More »
Lockheed Martin wins U.S. Army contract for powerful laser weapon system
The U.S. Army awarded a new contract to Lockheed Martin this week that will place the defense contractor in charge of developing up to four 300 kW-class laser weapon systems for a prototype program. Designated the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) program, that... Read More »
U.S. to help support Israel in defense against Hamas attacks
Following weekend attacks by Hamas that caught Israel off guard and launched a declaration of war, the United States reiterated its support for its traditional Middle East ally, as fears of escalation grew. While Israel now claims its border with Gaza to be secure – three days after a Hamas... Read More »
World governments advance amendments to International Health Regulations
With more than 300 proposed amendments in hand, the Working Group of Amendments to the IHR undertook a fifth round of discussions over International Health Regulations 2005 last week, setting up a path to a consolidated proposal and further discussions. Proposed amendments considered by the... Read More »
New York pharmacy owner pleads guilty in $25M healthcare bribery scheme
Detailing a system of kickbacks and bribes, the part owner of New York’s 888 pharmacy Inc. and Huikang Pharmacy Inc. – Dacheng Lu – pled guilty last week in conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by more than $25 million. Lu pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud – a... Read More »
Senators propose greater oversight of U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreements
In a bill that would revise the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and fellow Republicans last week introduced legislation to increase oversight of U.S.-China science and technology agreements (STAs). Daines joined 12 other Republicans in introducing... Read More »
Northrop Grumman wins new U.S. Navy contract for guided, high explosive ammunition
The U.S. Navy announced last week it would look to Northrop Grumman for a 57mm guided high explosive ammunition to use with its Mk110 Naval Gun Mount. The new contract award focuses on the testing and maturation of the munition, which poses the capability to keep maneuvering in flight to... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative urges reprioritizing nuclear threats, innovative new strategies
The dangers of nuclear catastrophe are still very real, according to Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) president and COO Joan Rohfing, and at a recent event at the University of Pennsylvania, she urged new ideas, new thinkers and new funding to address it. The working theory of nuclear deterrence... Read More »
RTX opens new electric power systems lab and demonstrates new circuit breaker for hybrid-electric aircraft
This week RTX completed a successful demonstration of a solid-state circuit breaker for hybrid-electric propulsion system aircraft for NASA, and saw the opening of a $50 million Rockford, Ill., campus for its subsidiary Collins Aerospace’s advanced electric power systems lab. The demonstration... Read More »
Foreign Relations Committee Republicans call on State Department to better combat growing Chinese military footprint
Warning of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plan to develop overseas naval facilities and logistical hubs to fuel potential future operations, Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week urged the State Department to turn up the pressure. U.S. Sens. Todd Young (IN), Pete... Read More »
Biden administration indicts Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and employees for fentanyl trafficking
With the announcement of multiple indictments against China-based companies and Chinese employees this week, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a new efforts in an ongoing fight against fentanyl production and trafficking. “The international dimension... Read More »
New opportunity for critical infrastructure owners, operators to test equipment against GPS disruption and spoofing
In Fall 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will give Critical Infrastructure Owners & Operators (CI O&O) and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment manufacturers a chance to test their tools against GPS disruption and... Read More »
TSA expects to break firearm seizure record at airports this year
In the first three quarters of 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported 5,072 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints, putting it on track to break its own record of seizures by the end of the year. With more than 1,800 firearms stopped this quarter alone,... Read More »
Lockheed Martin, U.S. Navy conduct final, successful test of Trident II D5 ballistic missile
With a launch off the coast of California, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy last week demonstrated success in their final planned test of the submarine-fired Trident II D5 Life Extension Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM). “We are proud of Lockheed Martin’s nearly seven decades of partnership... Read More »
U.S. DOT awards more than $30M to hazardous materials response efforts
Through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last week announced an award of more than $30 million for first responders and the bolstering of local responses to hazardous materials incidents. In all, six grants split up... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $200,000 to Synthetik Insurance Analytics for flood analysis technology
A South Dakota startup called Synthetik Insurance Analytics won a $199,948 Phase 1 Other Transaction award from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week for development of flood data analysis technology. The third applicant to receive an... Read More »
DoD labels China, Russia as greatest international threats in 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released an unclassified version of its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) last week, laying out the foundations of its approach going forward, with a likely heavy approach on China and Russia. The previous CWMD strategy, released... Read More »
FBI’s summer anti-violent crime efforts led to more than 4,000 arrests, 50 organizations shuttered
During this summer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led a nationwide effort to combat violent crime, and as of this week, the results have been released: more than 4,000 arrests, 2,500 drug and 1,600 weapons seizures, and the takedown of more than 50 organizations. The campaign ran... Read More »
Department of Defense contracts Aerosol, Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors from Smiths Detection
As a means to detect, identify, alarm and report traditional and advanced chemical threats, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week chose Smiths Detection to provide 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD). The award, which included five fixed systems for ships... Read More »
Pay Our Military Act pledges military pay regardless of government shutdown
U.S. Senate Republicans led by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced legislation that seeks to make sure military service members still get paid in the event of a government shutdown. The Pay Our Military Act of 2023, S.2835, would guarantee that all American military branches – Army,... Read More »
Safe Response Act pledges training for first responders to prevent overdoses
U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would provide investments for a grant program meant to help train and provide resources to first responders working to prevent overdose deaths. The Safe Response Act, S.... Read More »
Department of Defense awards $30M in grants to six Defense Manufacturing Communities
As part of the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week awarded approximately $30 million to six organizations, following competitive applications. "Delivering capabilities to our warfighters at scale depends on a resilient and... Read More »
Northrop Grumman to provide U.S. Air Force with new SiAW missile capabilities
As an upgrade for fifth generation aircraft and more, the U.S. Air Force tapped Northrop Grumman Corporation this week to deliver the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), an air-to-ground weapon meant to hunt rapidly relocatable targets. “Northrop Grumman’s SiAW delivers on the Air Force’s... Read More »
Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act introduced to guarantee Secret Service gets paid fairly
U.S. Reps. Mark Green (R-TN) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) recently introduced the Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2023, new legislation that would extend the overtime pay authority for U.S. Secret Service agents. “For the brave men and women of the Secret Service, protecting our... Read More »
FirstNet Authority Board approves $451M budget for FY24
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) last week approved its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, allocating $451 million to fund operations and consider network improvements. “This budget positions the FirstNet Authority for continued growth and success as we implement our... Read More »
Biden administration adds national security protections to CHIPS incentives program
Through elaboration of certain provisions, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed guardrails on the CHIPS and Science act last week, barring associated funds from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in or jointly researching with foreign countries of concern. “One of the Biden-Harris... Read More »
Legislation demanding Chinese sanctions advances beyond House committee
A measure to demand sanctions on and prohibit nearly all economic interactions with blacklisted Chinese entities so targeted – the Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2023 (H.R. 760) – advanced from the House Financial Services Committee last week. Authored by U.S.... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation proposes establishing FEMA as cabinet-level federal agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could, as a whole, be up for a major promotion under the FEMA Independence Act of 2023 – a proposal to raise the agency to a cabinet-level position. According to its authors – U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) – the... Read More »
Marshals’ Operation North Star III yields arrests of more than 4,400 fugitives nationwide
After three months under Operation North Star III, the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests of 4,455 violent fugitives this week, following targeted efforts in 20 cities to execute warrants for homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and firearms violations. “ONS is an... Read More »
U.S. military implementing creative programs to boost recruitment efforts
As some branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are coming up short in their recruitment efforts, officials are looking at creative ways to connect students with recruitment officers, as well as programs that increase the likelihood students are prepared to pass rigorous military entrance... Read More »
DHS gathers private experts for Homeland Intelligence Experts Group
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group this week, assembling experts from the private sector to advise on federal intelligence efforts. Former senior intelligence officials, journalists, and human rights advocates join the assembly,... Read More »
House Homeland Security Republicans probe DHS, DoD and FBI over reported Chinese attempts to access sensitive U.S. sites
In a letter to the heads of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DoD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the House chairs pressed for details of their responses to supposed Chinese attempts to breach U.S. military and other sensitive sites. The letter from House... Read More »