News
Sens. Kaine, Menendez introduce bill to ban high-capacity magazines
Through the newly introduced Keep Americans Safe Act, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) seek to ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer or even possession of gun magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition. These high-capacity magazines have come under fire... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee advances cybersecurity bill
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced three bills this week designed to bolster federal efforts to prevent cyberattacks and increase federal government transparency online. One of the three bills that were passed in committee is the DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident... Read More »
Effort explores canine wearable technology
An Orlando, Fla.-based firm has secured a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) contract to begin prototype testing of canine wearable technology. The $199,540 agreement with HaloLights, LLC is part of DHS S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP),... Read More »
Bill seeks to improve TSA workforce
Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) recently introduced a measure designed to provide Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce employees the same worker rights and protections afforded to other federal workers. The Rights for Transportation Security... Read More »
Defense Department summarizes artificial intelligence strategy
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have released a summary outlining the agency's intent to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) into the future. Critical elements of Harnessing AI to Advance Our Security and Prosperity include accelerating the delivery and adoption of AI; establishing a... Read More »
International research highlights critical nature of antibiotics for flu mitigation
A collection of international researchers recently developed a mathematical framework to estimate the global value of investing in bacterial infection antibiotics. Specifically, the research pertains to Staphylococcus aureus infections, a drug-resistant infection that could potentially fuel... Read More »
New York State ramps up counterterrorism preparedness efforts
New York State conducted counterterrorism exercises at 1,000 locations throughout the state in 2018. The exercises were run by the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Counter Terrorism where experts from state and local agencies went undercover as customers... Read More »
National Health Security Strategy includes all-of-government approach to combat threats
Extreme weather events, a CBRN incident, cyberthreats and infectious diseases having pandemic potential all put Americans on notice for 21st century health security hazards, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in its newly developed National Health Security Strategy... Read More »
Lockheed Martin lands warfare systems contract
The Navy has awarded a $184 million firm-fixed-price modification contract to Lockheed Martin for full-rate production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 systems. “We are honored to continue to provide this critical fleet defense capability that our warfighters... Read More »
DHS exercise to assess first responder technology
As a means of assessing new first responder technology solutions, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is hosting an initiative that evaluates innovations. S&T officials said the agency had released a Request for Information (RFI) for... Read More »
Blood analysis reveals path to potential Ebola treatment
Scientists at the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have conducted a detailed blood sample analysis of Ebola patients that is shedding light on the roles a molecular pathway and microvesicles play in both the virus and potential treatments. The study turned... Read More »
DoD awards $3M to START to update terrorism-related datasets
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded $3 million to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) to update terrorism-related datasets that serve intelligence community modeling and simulation efforts. With this new award -- called Enhancing Datastreams... Read More »
DHS waiver expedites border fence replacement
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said a recently granted waiver ensures construction and replacement of a section of California secondary wall near the international border. The waiver for the 12.5 miles of coverage stems from authority granted to the Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Altus AFB receives first Pegasus tanker
Altus Air Force Base, Okla., has received the sites first KC-46A Pegasus tanker, which officials said represents the fifth such apparatus Boeing has delivered to the service branch. The KC-46 departed Seattle’s Boeing Field for Altus, where the base’s 56th Air Refueling Squadron is... Read More »
Senators push CDC to use vaccines amidst Washington Measles outbreak
With 79 measles cases already confirmed this year, the top Democrat and Republican on the U.S. Senate health committee have dispatched a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), urging them to promote vaccine... Read More »Oshkosh awarded $232.7M contract to rebuild Army vehicles
Oshkosh Defense was awarded a $232.7 million contract from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to rebuild and refurbish vehicles in the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) fleet. Oshkosh will rebuild, or recapitalize, 407 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical... Read More »Bill links DHS, National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a measure designed to link the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) to combat cybersecurity risks. The National Cybersecurity Preparedness... Read More »
CARB-X to fund antibiotic development initiative
The Boston University global partnership CARB-X has earmarked up to $4.4 million in non-dilutive funding for the development of a new antibiotic that will target infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. CARB-X officials said the funds would be allocated to Recida Therapeutics, based in ... Read More »
New DNA vaccine boasts complete protection against Mayaro virus in preclinical studies
Preclinical trials shone for a new synthetic DNA vaccine developed by the Wistar Institute this week when results published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases showed complete protection offered against the mosquito-borne Mayaro virus (MAYV). "Although MAYV was discovered a long time ago and... Read More »
Houston safety agencies test first-responder technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) hosted 13 Houston-area public safety agencies and 20 industry partners at the Port of Houston in December to test first-responder technology integration. The test also was hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard,... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Wyden ask DHS to assess foreign-made VPN threat
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have asked the Department of Homeland Security to assess the national security risks stemming from foreign-made Virtual Private Network (VPN). The senators specifically mention VPN networks affiliated with countries of national security concern,... Read More »
Bipartisan bill would require installation of secondary barriers on commercial aircraft
A bipartisan bill recently introduced in the U.S. House would require the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on existing commercial aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks. The barriers would be lightweight wire-mesh gates installed between the passenger cabin and the cockpit door. The... Read More »
Senate bill would reform Trade Expansion Act
A bill to reform the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The legislation is designed to better align the act with its original intent as a trade remedy tool for the president and Congress to respond to threats to national security. In keeping with the... Read More »
Perspecta to continue DARPA cyber defense work
A contract modification will enable Perspecta Labs to continue working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop cyber defenses against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. The new contract agreement is worth up to $2.7 million and is dependent on the... Read More »
GAO examines Army’s rebuilding, transformation effort
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently offered an assessment regarding the Army's progression toward rebuilding readiness and implementing transformation goals by 2022. The GAO said the analysis involved providing information on the Army's progress and challenges in readiness... Read More »Scientific review determines antibiotic development insufficient to meet multidrug resistance threat
Though strides have been made in the antibiotic pipeline in the last few years, a review released in Clinical Infectious Diseases this week found that they are not enough to combat multidrug resistance. The report is an update on progress made under the Infectious Diseases Society of America's... Read More »
Resolution ensures Congressional support for NATO
Several legislators recently announced their support of a Joint Resolution preventing the U.S. withdrawal from NATO without congressional approval. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) said the effort serves effort as companion legislation... Read More »
Border patrol agents continued CBP mission during shutdown
San Diego Sector (SDC) Border Patrol personnel continued to skillfully execute missions during the recent partial government shutdown, which represented the longest such period in the nation’s history. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials said from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 24, 2019, SDC... Read More »
Study finds multidrug antibiotic resistance in remote arctic soil
A University of Kansas geologist recently determined that antibiotic-resistant microbes have spread to the remote arctic soil of Norway and could have severe implications for global human health. The discovery -- published in the journal Environment International -- found that... Read More »
US Air Force needs to improve experienced maintenance personnel retention, GAO says
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently announced two recommendations for how the Air Force can retain aircraft maintenance personnel. The Air Force’s largest enlisted career field is aircraft maintenance, and there are more than 100,000 active and reserve maintenance... Read More »
DHS incorporates three startup technologies into its operations
(Corrects 6th paragraph to clarify the Global Travel Assessment System was developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.) The Department of Homeland Security’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) recently launched the development of three startup technologies to be used by DHS.... Read More »
Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense focuses on DOD role in protecting U.S. against bio attacks
There’s ample reason to concentrate on the role the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) plays in helping the nation defend against biological attacks, one of the most critical being the protection of America’s military troops, said experts Tuesday during a Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster border with seized drug funds
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently introduced legislation designed to enhance border security via funds seized from illegal entities such as drug cartels. The Securing the Border and Making Drug Cartels Pay for It Act would authorize the issuance of bonds to make billions of dollars available for... Read More »
Lawmakers lend support to RAIDERS Act
A group of legislators recently announced their support of the RAIDERS Act, which officials said is designed to prevent presidential use of National Emergencies Act of 1976 funds to build a border wall. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Martin... Read More »