News
Research suggests Zika control efforts should target urban Aedes mosquito populations
A species of invasive mosquitoes in California is capable of transmitting the Zika virus, and their populations should be highly controlled, researchers from the University of California-Davis have discovered. Researchers from the University of California-Davis infected three different species... Read More »
Bipartisan house bill would authorize ‘bug bounty program’ to secure election systems
A “bug bounty program” competition would be created to reward cyber experts for identifying gaps in the cyber defenses of the nation’s election infrastructure under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. The Prevent Election Hacking Act of 2018 would authorize... Read More »
NTI Global Biosecurity Dialogue charters course to enhance global biosecurity, biosafety
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Global Biosecurity Dialogue (GBD) brought more than 60 government officials, international organizations, nuclear experts and civil society leaders together in London last week to discuss solutions to strengthen global biosecurity and biosafety.... Read More »
TSA braces for record number of travelers this summer at DC-area airports
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for a record-breaking number of travelers this summer at airports in the Washington, D.C. area. TSA expects 243 million passengers and crew to come through security checkpoints between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the nation’s... Read More »
New tool aids emergency preparedness efforts
University of Kansas students recently created a tool designed to enhance emergency preparedness efforts. Officials said military, veteran, and civilian students in the university’s new homeland security master's program developed and implemented an emergency plan for a long-term blackout... Read More »
Alabama man sentenced to 15 years in attempted terrorist plot
A 23-year-old Alabama man who pleaded guilty to acquiring bomb-making materials and planning an ISIS-inspired attack on a local police station was sentenced in a federal court Wednesday to 15 years in prison on Wednesday. Aziz Ihab Sayyed of Huntsville pleaded guilty in March to a charge of... Read More »
Year’s first positive West Nile virus confirmed in mosquito sample in Dauphin Co., Pa.
The first West Nile virus-infected mosquito sample of the year was recently identified by the Dauphin County Conservation District in Washington Township, Pa., but no human cases have been reported. The vector-borne West Nile virus can infect humans with an infection known as West Nile... Read More »
Lawmakers push Google to reconsider strategic partnership with Chinese telecom company
A bipartisan group of lawmakers raised concerns on Wednesday about the national security implications of a new strategic partnership between Google and Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company. The lawmakers argued in a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai that Chinese telecommunication... Read More »
DARPA program drives automated molecule production
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Make-It Program is making progress toward fully automated rapid molecule production. The Make-It research teams are developing automated devices that create the desired chemical based on the software-generated recipe. These software tools... Read More »
Malaria vaccine combo may reduce number of cases
Imperial College London researchers have determined that the use of a pair of experimental anti-malarial vaccines may reduce the number of malaria infections. Details of the probe in eLife outlined the testing of two types of vaccines in mice: those preventing mosquitoes from transferring the... Read More »
Raytheon receives milestone patent
Raytheon is the recipient of the nation’s 10 millionth patent, which covers a system for obtaining real-time readings on speed and distance from the data stream created by laser radars. The company currently holds 13,000 active patents, which includes nearly 4,500 based in the United States,... Read More »
DHS hearing in Harrisburg focuses on efforts to counter opioid overdose epidemic
Federal, state, and local officials discussed efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal opioids into communities and to break up criminal networks during a field hearing held on Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pa. The hearing, “Opioids in the Homeland: DHS Coordination with State and Local Partners to... Read More »
House approves bills to enhance preparedness, response capabilities to emerging terror threats
In response to evolving terror threats, the U.S. House of Representatives approved bills on Tuesday to enhance federal efforts to protect against vehicular terrorism and to establish a federal laboratory to develop new technologies for use by law enforcers and first responders. U.S. Rep. Dan... Read More »
Senate subcommittee approves more than $55 billion homeland security spending bill
A $55.15 billion homeland security appropriations bill that emphasizes border security, cybersecurity, the nationwide opioid epidemic, and state and local support cleared the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on Tuesday. The Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security... Read More »
BAE wins $198 million contract from Marines for amphibious combat vehicles
BAE Systems was awarded a $198 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corp to deliver 30 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV). The contract also includes an option for a total of 204 vehicles which could be worth up to $1.2 billion. “We are well positioned and ready to build the future of... Read More »
New study addresses mosquito populations, West Nile
Researchers from the University of Waterloo recently touted the benefits of a pesticide-free approach to limiting mosquito populations that also addresses the spread of West Nile virus. The work, published in Plos One, outlined the process of introducing hungry minnows into bodies of water where... Read More »Nuclear weapons proliferation reporting requirements examined
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently conducted a nuclear proliferation reporting analysis, determining the documents did not address several requirements and lacked vital details. The work stemmed from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015, which... Read More »
Air Force highlights importance of Eagle Vision satellite imaging tool in disaster recovery efforts
The Air Force recently highlighted the ability of Eagle Vision, technology that is capable of processing satellite imagery in near real-time, to assist in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, including those the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. First deployed during... Read More »
DHS S&T grants liability protections for thousandth anti-terrorism technology
Legislation enacted in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to shield developers of anti-terrorism technologies from liability has now resulted in more than 1,000 innovative breakthroughs that enhance public safety, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate... Read More »
Senate approves $716 billion National Defense Authorization Act aiming to bolster readiness
The U.S. Senate approved a national defense spending bill for fiscal year 2019 Monday that totals $716 billion, including a $550 million increase in military readiness funding to address critical shortfalls and a $450 million increase in military facilities sustainment funding. The Fiscal Year... Read More »
KBRwyle awarded U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract
The government services business of KBR, KBRwyle, is one of six contractors awarded a $900 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center. KBRwyle was selected to fix problems identified through... Read More »
IDSA supports public health, research legislation
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) announced last week their support of legislation prioritizing urgent public health and research priorities. “We look forward to learning more about allocations to the Prevention and Public Health Fund and hope to see robust support for... Read More »
New compound as potent as FDA drugs used to treat infections
Purdue University researchers maintain a newly identified compound has proven to be as potent as FDA approved infection-fighting drugs and is less susceptible to bacterial resistance. Investigators said preliminary testing, outlined via the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, determined F6... Read More »
Treasury Department issues new round of sanctions against Russian entities, individuals for cyber attacks
The U.S. Department of Treasury issued sanctions against five Russian entities and three Russian individuals last week for engaging in “significant malicious cyber-enabled activities.” The Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued sanctions against one entity... Read More »
CBP approves 20 public-private agreements to provide expanded services
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) approved 20 new reimbursable service agreements with non-federal entities on Friday that will allow CBP to be reimbursed for providing enhanced services for cross-border trade and travel. CBP approved reimbursable service agreements with private... Read More »
DHS awards Factom $192K to test blockchain method to secure internet-connected devices
Austin-based startup Factom, Inc. has been awarded $192,000 for beta testing of a new system that uses blockchain technology to secure data generated from internet-connect devices through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). Administered... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative launches new advisory group
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) launched an advisory group for its recently expanded Global Biological Policy and Programs. The advisory group provides strategic guidance on the program’s effort to reduce global biological risks. It will be chaired by former commissioner of the Food and... Read More »
National agencies seek biopreparedness funding, discuss new technologies to stem emerging threats
The United States may be prepared for emerging biological terror and disease outbreaks, but members of Congress questioned during a recent hearing whether coordination among federal agencies, local health departments, and private companies are optimal to tackle such threats. The purpose of... Read More »
CBP expands ROAM pilot program for tourist admittance to Waterton, Alberta
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has added Waterton, Alberta, as a pilot location for its Reporting Offsite Arrival Mobile (ROAM) application that aims to streamline border crossing processes for pedestrians in high-tourism areas, the agency announced on Thursday. Expansion of the ROAM... Read More »
DHS S&T collaborating with FEMA to deliver comprehensive Puerto Rico recovery plan
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in drafting a report assessing hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and outlining a plan to rebuild that is due to Congress by Aug. 8. DHS S&T has... Read More »
Oshkosh Defense lands tactical vehicles contract
Oshkosh Defense, LLC has secured a $159.6 million government contract for 771 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) after the Army Contracting Command placed the four additional orders. Oshkosh Defense was first awarded the FMTV A1P2 contract in 2009. The current generation FMTV is... Read More »
Sens. Reed, Warren seek to amend NDAA
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are seeking to amend the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure Congress continues a role in authorizing the development of new nuclear weapons. The senators said the amendment is needed because the Trump Administration is... Read More »
Collateral effects of terrorism cost European Union $209 billion from 2004-2016
Terrorism cost the European Union an estimated $209 billion in economic losses from 2004 to 2016, with the psychological impacts of witnessing terrorism contributing to negative economic growth and changes in economic behavior, according to a new report by RAND Europe. The United Kingdom and... Read More »
GAO report finds DHS making progress in meeting chemical facility standards
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made progress in managing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). DHS established the CFATS program in 2007 to identify and assess the security risk... Read More »