News
Nationwide ICE operation results in 1,378 arrests of gang members, immigration violators
A six-week, nationwide gang operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit netted a total of 1,378 arrests across the country, the largest such operation conducted by HSI to date. In total 1,098 individuals were arrested on federal... Read More »
CBP agents seize 159 pounds of cocaine, arrest three off Puerto Rican coast
A single engine marine vessel, carrying approximately 159 pounds of cocaine, was recently intercepted north of Arecibo, Puerto Rico by officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and the Puerto Rico Police Department. The incident began as a CBP... Read More »
Rep. Langevin, DHS provide update on WannaCry ransomware attacks
A malicious ransomware software known as WannaCry has recently infected more than 200,000 computer systems across multiple nations, forcing users to pay the equivalent of $300 in the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, before users regain access to their files. The ransomware reportedly infects systems... Read More »
UMD students launch program to help prevent individuals from becoming radicalized
A group of students at the University of Maryland-College Park (UMD) recently developed a program for family and friends of individuals at risk of radicalizing, with a goal of finding new ways of challenging extremism in the United States. The initiative, “It Takes Just One,” is a... Read More »
Sen. Kaine questions Cybercom commander on the impact of potential government shutdown
In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held last week, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) heard testimony from Navy Adm. Mike Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command (Cybercom), on how a potential government shutdown could complicate Cybercom’s mission. Kaine’s concerns stem from a recent... Read More »
USDA has made progress in protecting against avian influenza, evaluation still needed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken numerous steps to reduce the risk of avian influenza, but needs a plan to evaluate its efforts going forward, according to a recent report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In preparing its report, GAO was asked to... Read More »
Centers for Disease Control updates immunization recommendations for Vaxchora cholera vaccine
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently adopted and published a recommendation made by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP), concerning the use of PaxVax’s cholera vaccine, Vaxchora. The recommendation, which was unanimously approved by the CDC’s... Read More »
WHO’s regional director to Africa travels to the Congo to discuss Ebola response plans
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti recently visited Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to hold a meeting with the country’s national authorities to discuss an effective response plan in regards to the recently-verified outbreak of... Read More »
Trump issues Executive Order to strengthen cybersecurity for federal networks and critical infrastructure
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order last week, which aims to strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) role in securing federal networks from potential cyberattacks. “Our nation’s economic and national security rely on a safe, secure, and reliable cyber... Read More »
Sens. Wyden, Schatz request information on recent Federal Communications Commission cyberattack
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) recently sent a public letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai requesting information on the reported distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyberattack on the FCC’s website and the ability of the agency to defend... Read More »
NIST researchers develop new screening techniques to avoid accidental exposure to illicit substances
A team of scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently began an initiative on developing technologies to detect trace amount of fentanyl, heroin, and other substances to help prevent accidental exposure for law enforcement. Through a research paper... Read More »
BAE Systems selected by Treasury Department to assist in investigating financial crimes from terrorist organizations, drug cartels
BAE Systems was recently selected by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (DoT) to assist its Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) in protecting the nation’s financial systems against threats from terrorist organizations, drug cartels, and rogue actors. The company is part of a... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic hires Tommi Kainu as executive vice president, chief business officer
Tommi Kainu was recently named executive vice president and chief business officer at Bavarian Nordic effective July 1, where he will oversee operations in both commercial and government affairs, along with various business development initiatives. Kainu’s new role will be based at Bavarian... Read More »
Congo’s new Ebola cases make global, national health security strategy critical, IDSA expert says
News on Friday about the reemergence of several Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) highlights the need for both a robust global and national health security strategy, said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, immediate past chairman of the public health committee for the Infectious Diseases... Read More »
DHS Science and Technology Directorate publishes study on government mobile device security
A report detailing both the current and emerging threats to the federal government’s use of mobile devices, complete with a number of security recommendations, was recently submitted to Congress by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).... Read More »
Indonesian Foreign Minister visits OPCW headquarters, discusses chemical weapons convention implementation
Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi recently visited the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to meet with OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü and discuss the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Üzümcü first... Read More »
Cyber Command increases readiness to hold at-risk targets
In testimony provided to a Senate panel on Tuesday, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers stated that U.S. Cyber Command (Cybercom) is continually increasing its cyber mission forces’ readiness to hold targets that are at risk in the face of intensified international conflicts and cyberspace threats.... Read More »
Mosquito-borne viruses may be spread at cooler temperatures than previously believed
Mosquito-borne viruses, such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, are being transmitted at lower temperatures than previously believed, according to a recent study published by researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) and Stanford University. The study, which was published in a recent... Read More »Sen. Corker responds to Syrian chemical attack aftermath footage
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) recently appeared on CNN to respond to a video that showed the aftermath of the reported chemical weapons attack in southern Idlib, Syria by Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The attack provided the impetus for a missile strike response... Read More »
Joint discussion encourages US-Chinese collaboration in a potential nuclear crisis
A scenario-based discussion, centering around how the United States and the People’s Republic of China could better cooperate to address nuclear threats, was recently conducted amongst representatives from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the China Institutes of Contemporary International... Read More »
New Jersey man charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS
A 20-year old New Jersey man, Gregory Lepsky, recently appeared in federal court to face allegations that he planned to construct and detonate a pressure cooker-style explosive in support of the extremist group the Islamic State and Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Lepsky is charged with one count of... Read More »
Trump Administration authorizes non-nuclear bomb operation against ISIS, according to May Terror Threat Snapshot
The United States is continuing its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) Afghanistan branch by recently deploying its most-powerful, non-nuclear bomb on a network of underground tunnels which killed 36 members of the extremist group, according to the House Homeland... Read More »
Infectious Diseases Society of America applauds increases in public health funding
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) issued a statement of public support last week for the recent congressional passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which helps support a variety of infectious disease programs for public health benefit in the United States and... Read More »
U.S. Senate should create separate cybersecurity combat command, experts testify
America’s cybersecurity efforts could be strengthened posthaste if operations were overseen by a separate nationwide combat command, witnesses on Wednesday told members of the powerful U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “The government and military need to move... Read More »
Dated technology, procedures hindering ICE’s mission to track visa overstays, according to OIG report
The fragmented, ineffective set of information technology (IT) systems stifles efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track visa overstays, according to a recent report published by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG).... Read More »
House advances legislation to enhance FEMA disaster response, recovery programs
Three bills to strengthen the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were unanimously approved last week by the U.S. House of Representatives. Each piece of legislation ensures that the federal government fairly considers... Read More »
CDC issues health alert for women living in, traveling to areas with Zika travel notice
A health alert notice was issued last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provides guidance for healthcare professionals for interpreting Zika virus test results for women to who live in, or travel to, areas with a CDC Zika travel notice. The CDC said the... Read More »
CRISPR enzymes show promise for disease diagnostics
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) recently described 10 clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) enzymes that have “Pac-Man-like” behaviors that chew up RNA, which could be used to detect infectious viruses. Each enzyme is a... Read More »
Electromagnetic pulse threats don’t outrank cyberattacks on America’s grid, U.S. senators learn
Naturally occurring or man-made risks from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) are a threat to national defense, witnesses testified during a recent U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. And although the electric sector and the U.S. government are regularly working together and... Read More »
Emergent Biosolutions unveils new Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing
Emergent Biosolutions unveiled its new Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) on Tuesday, which is designed to enable manufacturing of various medical countermeasures to address urgent public health threats. The 112,000-sq. ft. facility was supported through a... Read More »
Nation’s visa security remains work in progress, feds tell U.S. House task force
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made progress during the past few years but faces numerous challenges strengthening America’s visa security, members of the House Committee on Homeland Security learned during a task force hearing last week. “This is a critical time for our... Read More »
PNNL researchers test biodetection products for first responders
Independent testing of approximately three dozen biodetection products was recently conducted by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in order to evaluate their effectiveness in detecting biothreat agents like anthrax and ricin for first responders. The independent... Read More »
Workshop on radiological, “dirty bomb” risks held in California
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, recently held a radiological security workshop May 2-3 to discuss radiological materials and ways to reduce the risks they pose. The... Read More »Sens. Johnson, McCaskill request information regarding assaults on law enforcement personnel
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the committee’s ranking member, recently sent a public letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Inspector General John Roth, regarding assaults... Read More »