News
Hazardous chemical incident training event held for Latin American, Caribbean first responders
A training event focusing on hazardous chemical incident response was recently held for Latin American and Caribbean first responders in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, managed by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Part of the Exercise of Assistance and Protection for Latin... Read More »
House Committee marks 9/11 anniversary with 10-year progress report of Homeland Security
As the nation gathered to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, this week, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered a review of the Department of Homeland Security’s progress over the past decade. Analyzing 10 specific mandates, including... Read More »
GAO recommends TSA evaluate cost, effectiveness of aviation security countermeasures
Following a review of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) documentation on the effectiveness of six passenger aviation security countermeasures, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the agency explore methods to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of those... Read More »Health and Human Services Department to provide funding for secondary infection antibiotic development
An office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that it would provide up to $62 million over the next five years to Summit Therapeutics for the development of an antibiotic to combat Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). The secondary infection can occur... Read More »
Rep. Pittenger urges Treasury to consider sanctions against Qatar-based terrorism financiers
Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC), vice chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance, recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging the exploration of sanctions against Qatar-based terrorism financiers. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), David... Read More »
GAO report examines US efforts to fight narcotics-related money laundering
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report exploring U.S. efforts to stop profits from drug trafficking from entering financial systems in the Western Hemisphere through money laundering. The report describes U.S. agency oversight and monitoring of compliance with the... Read More »
Russian hacker pleads guilty in $50 million online identity theft case
A Russian hacker named Roman Seleznev has now pled guilty to a role in stealing credit card data and other personal information as part of a credit fraud ring known Carder.su. To be specific, Seleznev, who has gone by the handles of Track2, Bulba and Ncux, pleaded guilty in two criminal cases to... Read More »
IAEA nuclear experts complete security advisory mission to China
A team of nuclear security experts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently completed an advisory trip to the People’s Republic of China at the behest of its government for an examination of the country’s nuclear security apparatus. Under the IAEA’s Physical Protection... Read More »
NNSA needs to develop cost estimates, schedule for new uranium processing project, GAO says
A complete scope of work is needed to develop timely cost and schedule information for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) uranium program, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). As part of the FY2013 National Defense... Read More »
ISIS losing territory, but calling for more attacks on the West, report says
As the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continues to lose territory, they have begun calling for more attacks on the West, resulting in a coordinated attack in Spain last month, according to September’s terror threat “snapshot” released by the House Homeland Security Committee. Each... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances port-based cybersecurity bill
As a direct result of a cyberattack that saw the largest terminal at the Port of Los Angeles closed in June, the House Committee on Homeland Security has advanced a new cybersecurity bill this week. The Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act is a bill... Read More »
CBP, postal service should evaluate costs and benefits of electronic advance data program, Government Accountability Office says
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) should assess whether the costs of the new Electronic Advance Data (EAD) program outweigh the benefits. In 2014 and 2015, USPS and CPB launched two pilot programs at the New York International Service Center (ISC)... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions launches chemical warfare decontamination lotion to civilian market
Available now to the buying public is Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL) from Emergent BioSolutions, a lotion that protects human skin against chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Specifically, RSDL, which was previously only available to the military, is a patented, broad-spectrum liquid... Read More »
New York State receives $319.85M in homeland security grants
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), chair of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, recently announced that New York State has been awarded $319.85 million through the Homeland Security Preparedness Grant programs for fiscal year 2017. A major portion of the... Read More »
Researchers develop process for producing malaria treatment on a large scale
Artemisinin, a Chinese medicine used to treat malaria that often faces issues with an unstable supply, can be rapidly produced at an industrial rate by genetically engineering moss, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education the University... Read More »Flooding from hurricanes in Texas and Florida bring public health risks
As people rebuild from the damage caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, they should also be aware of the public health risks related to flooding, including diarrheal infections and mosquito-borne illnesses. “What people don't often realize is that there's a significant health risk from... Read More »
McSally bill to reauthorize Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism advances committee
A bill, authored by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), that aims to protect global supply chains against terrorist activities by reauthorizing and modernizing the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) recently advanced the House Homeland Security Committee. First established as... Read More »
Amendment to fully fund NBACC advances House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced an amendment authored by U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) to fully fund the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), reversing a decision by the Trump Administration to eliminate funding for the center in its proposed FY2018... Read More »
German study offers potential for accelerated vaccine development
Seeking to overturn boundaries to the development of vaccines against pathogen outbreaks, the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has announced a successful study of early immune response with serious implications. DZIF scientists at the Heinrich Pette Institute and the University... Read More »
Feasibility study for modernization of Arizona’s Douglas Port of Entry receives funding
The General Services Administration (GSA) recently informed U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) that it provided funding for a feasibility study of the modernization of the Douglas Port of Entry (POE) for fiscal year 2017. “GSA is taking a major step towards making the Douglas modernization... Read More »
Lockheed’s helicopter-based missile surveillance, deterrent system passes preliminary design review
Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system, developed to provide MH-60 helicopters with enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile threats, recently passed its preliminary design review on schedule. AOEW was... Read More »
ManTech’s Advanced Cyber Range Environment achieves full operational capability
ManTech International Corporation recently announced full operational capability of its Advanced Cyber Range Environment, a system that enables users to test and evaluate the cyber-preparedness of their networks and to train in the latest defensive cyber technologies. With the new cyber range... Read More »
Duke researchers create molecular map of F. tularensis to learn how to disable a potential bioweapon
Researchers at Duke University recently developed a three-dimensional map of the complex molecular circuitry of Francisella tularensis, the bacteria that causes tularemia, in order to better understand how the pathogen becomes virulent. "Now we have the coordinates for stopping one of the most... Read More »Disaster-affected area of Sierra Leone to receive cholera vaccines
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation announced this week that half a million people in areas affected by floods and landslides will receive cholera vaccinations starting this month. The two rounds of vaccines will come from the global stockpile funded by Gavi, the Vaccine... Read More »
Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare system passes Preliminary Design Review
The Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system developed by Lockheed Martin recently passed Preliminary Design Review on schedule. The AOEW will provide MH-60 helicopters with enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile (ASM)... Read More »
OPCW’s Director-General highlights organization successes at Conference on Disarmament
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü highlighted the successes of the OPCW and reaffirmed its resolve to eliminate all chemical weapons through the Chemical... Read More »
Sen. Tester secures $5 million for state-based border security efforts
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) recently secured $5 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist Montana-based law enforcement agencies in their efforts to strengthen security along the state’s 540-mile international border with Canada. "Terrorists and criminals will find... Read More »
Monoclonal antibodies protect nonhuman primates from Lassa fever eight days after infection, study says
Nonhuman primates were recently protected against Lassa fever by using three types of monoclonal antibodies eight days after they became infected with the virus, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). While the virus is known... Read More »Sandia National Laboratories develops tool to analyze gamma radiation data
Sandia National Laboratories recently developed a software application for mobile and traditional computing devices analyze gamma radiation data collected at the scene of an emergency involving radiation. Sandia’s InterSpec team includes software developer and physicist Will Johnson and... Read More »
Homeland Security department announced over $11 million in grants for Nevada
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced over $11.1 million in grants under three different programs for the state of Nevada in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. “Ensuring our state has what it needs to thwart potential terror attacks and protect our tourism economy is critical,... Read More »
Increases in earth’s temperature raises risk of dengue outbreaks, study says
The gradual increase of the earth’s surface temperature enhances the metabolism of mosquitoes and increases the risk of dengue fever outbreaks, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool, the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and the National... Read More »
FirstNet-AT&T public safety broadband network reaches 20 state opt-ins
Since its rollout in early July, a total of 20 U.S. states and territories have decided to opt-in to the AT&T-First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public safety broadband network. The interoperable communications system allows emergency response personnel to securely and... Read More »Karisch selected as new Border Patrol’s new chief patrol agent for Tucson Sector
Officials with U.S. Border Patrol recently announced the selection of Rodolfo Karisch as the Tucson Sector’s new Chief Patrol Agent and Commander of Joint-Task Force-West, Arizona. In his new role, Karisch will now oversee the operations of more than 3,900 border agents and related support... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection awards four contracts for border wall prototypes
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that it awarded four contracts for concrete prototypes of a southern border wall, which will help deter illegal crossings where they are constructed and allow CBP to evaluate new designs. Caddell Construction Co., (DE), LLC based in... Read More »