News
House Homeland Security Committee Democrats appoint members to Terrorist Travel Task Force
Democrats serving on the House Committee on Homeland Security recently appointed its members to the committee’s Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry into the United States. Democratic members on the temporary panel include U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), vice ranking member of the... Read More »
CDC releases new information on blood, tissue samples from areas with active Zika transmission
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its epidemiological information to its website regarding Zika virus, which includes implications to the blood and tissue collection community. The new information includes data about areas with potential increased risk... Read More »Stanford study reveals drug combination shows efficacy against dengue fever, Ebola virus in mice
During a recent Stanford University School of Medicine study, a combination of two cancer drugs inhibited both dengue fever and Ebola virus infections in mice subjects, despite the viruses being so different from one another. Results of the study were published in the Feb. 27 issue of the... Read More »
OPCW Executive Council votes to condemn the use of VX nerve agent in recent Malaysian airport attack
The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently adopted a decision to condemn the use of the Schedule 1 liquid nerve agent VX, which was used in a fatal incident last month at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The incident occurred on Feb.... Read More »
Democratic Congress members raise concerns over impact of executive orders on preparedness for pandemic flu outbreak
A group of Democratic members of Congress recently sent a public letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), questioning how actions by the Trump Administration could harm the CDC’s preparedness in the... Read More »CDC adds four countries to Zika virus-related travel guidance
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued last week a Zika virus travel notice for Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, and the Solomon Islands. The CDC’s travel notices warn individuals, particularly pregnant women, to practice enhanced precautions when traveling to... Read More »Former ICE employee convicted of accepting bribes, lying to investigators
A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was convicted by a federal jury last week on charges of accepting cash bribes and sexual favors in exchange for providing employment authorization documents and concealing the employment of an undocumented migrant at a hair salon he owned.... Read More »
Bill to help local law enforcement, government organizations better prepare for cyber attacks introduced
Congressmen of the San Antonio, Texas delegation recently introduced a cybersecurity preparedness bill to both the U.S House of Representatives and the Senate, aiming for better training for local authorities against cyber attacks. The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act requires... Read More »
Trump administration urged to strengthen public health emergency response before next threat arrives
Recent presidential administrations confronted infectious disease emergencies that threatened both human lives and the U.S. economy, and with the likelihood high that the Trump administration will be no exception, the U.S. government should strengthen its public health emergency preparedness now,... Read More »
NIAID’s Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group provide progress updates, challenges
The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG), an initiative launched by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), recently provided an update in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases on ARLG progress, outlining its ongoing and future efforts. The leadership... Read More »
GAO report: Opportunities exist to strengthen security for ground transport of risk-significant radioactive materials
According to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, more actions are needed from federal agencies to strengthen transportation security for risk-significant radioactive materials during ground transport. GAO was originally asked to review federal procedures over risk-significant... Read More »
Experts discuss chemical safety, security at meeting in Doha, Qatar
At a meeting coordinated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) of Qatar, experts discussed the latest trends in chemical safety, security, and nonproliferation initiatives. The Fifth Seminar on Chemical... Read More »Ratcliffe chairs hearing on DHS-private sector partnerships on cybersecurity
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) chaired a cybersecurity hearing last week to examine various opportunities for enhancing partnerships between the private sector and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The hearing, titled The Current State of DHS Private Sector Engagement for... Read More »
NIAID doctors warn of yellow fever outbreak in rural Brazil
Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), recently published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, discussing the unusually large outbreak of yellow fever in rural Brazil and how the situation needs careful attention by world... Read More »
New York receives more than $5 million in federal grant funding for public safety initiatives
The State of New York recently received more than $5 million in federal Homeland Security grant funding for local governments across the state to enhance counterterrorism initiatives and strengthen public safety-related projects. The funding was announced by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, U.S.... Read More »
FBI Director Comey details strategy to curtail cyber intrusions
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Boston Conference on Cybersecurity last week and laid out the bureau’s five-part strategy to address various cyber intrusions. The conference is part of a partnership between the FBI and... Read More »House Small Business Committee holds hearing on coordinating federal resources for cybersecurity
During a hearing with the U.S. House Small Business Committee, a panel of experts said that the government must do a better job coordinating federal resources to protect the country’s small businesses from various cybersecurity threats. The hearing comes in the wake of a recent report from... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee debates bill on denying foreign fighters entry into US
The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday marked up a bill that requires a stress test of various U.S. government protection and prevention programs against potential terrorist attacks. The Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017 was introduced by U.S. Rep.... Read More »
DHS private sector cooperation necessary for success of nation’s cybersecurity efforts
More work needs to be done to strengthen the alliance between the private sector and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in combating cyber attacks, private stakeholders testified at a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing Wednesday. “In the cyber domain, we are constantly learning... Read More »
Laredo CBP officers seize almost 50 pounds of cocaine, arrest driver at World Trade International Bridge
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed near the Laredo Port of Entry recently seized a shipment of alleged cocaine worth approximately $365,000. The incident occurred on Mar. 2, as agents stationed at the World Trade International Bridge in Texas referred a 2006 Wentworth... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases March terror threat snapshot
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, released this week a terror threat snapshot for the month of March, which stated that homegrown jihadist cases hit a new high since the Sept. 11 attacks. “This month marked a grim milestone, as we surpassed 200... Read More »Research teams capture first 3D images of operating high explosive detonators
Researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) recently captured 3D images of operating high explosive detonators for the first time. For the study, the research teams utilized state-of-the-art imaging systems with computed... Read More »
New study finds Zika virus symptoms in Canadian travelers more severe than originally expected
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Toronto and Public Health Ontario, Canadians who reported travel-related illnesses after returning from the Americas were commonly diagnosed with dengue, but actually were infected with cases of Zika virus that were more severe than... Read More »ICE agents apprehend Colombian National Army commander wanted for human rights abuses
Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit recently arrested a former Colombian National Army battalion commander who was wanted for charges of forced disappearance, homicide of a protected person, and weapons and ammunition... Read More »
KSU’s Biosecurity Research Institute launches fellowship to study highly-contagious epidemic animal diseases
Kansas State University (KSU) recently launched a new research fellowship aimed at studying highly-contagious epidemic animal diseases and the threats they pose to national security. The fellowship is supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is administered through... Read More »
Interpol, Council of Europe launch new cybersecurity investigation project
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), in conjunction with the Council of Europe, recently launched a new initiative aimed at building capacity and enhancing cooperation amongst cybersecurity investigators around the world. The Global action on Cybercrime extended (GLACY+)... Read More »Perry introduces TSA employee misconduct accountability bill
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced this week the Strengthening Oversight of TSA Employee Misconduct Act, which requires senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials to oversee the review of disciplinary actions given in response to employee misconduct. Under current rules,... Read More »FLIR Systems received a more than $50 million order from DOD for DR-SKO systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. recently received a delivery order valued at $54.2 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for 50 U.S. Army chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear dismounted reconnaissance sets, kits and outfit (CBRN DR-SKO) systems. The order is part of a five-year... Read More »
Carter introduces bill to increase cooperation between ICE, local law enforcement
U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) recently introduced a bill that aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by targeting undocumented migrants who have a criminal record and bringing them into law enforcement custody. The bill, titled the Assuring Law Enforcement Requests are Timely... Read More »
Capito, Boozman tour CBP Advanced Training Center at Harpers Ferry
U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and John Boozman (R-AR) received a briefing from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leadership last week, regarding a number of training programs during a tour of CBP’s Advanced Training Center at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. “I share the... Read More »
House bill aims to ensure safety of nation’s food supply from agro-terrorism
U.S. Reps. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), David Young (R-IA) and Dan Donovan (R-NY) recently introduced a bill to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply by combating the threat of potential agro-terrorism. The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act would require the Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
MEPs urge adoption of full visa reciprocity for all EU member states, US
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) recently adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to take measures to temporarily reintroduce visa reciprocity for citizens of the United States and all states within the European Union (EU). Currently, citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,... Read More »
Sandia National Labs ensure functionality of nation’s nuclear weapons
In the years since the United States ceased developing new nuclear weapons systems, Sandia National Laboratories have been conducting and developing a series of assessments for each nuclear weapons system to detect or anticipate potential functionality issues as the weapons themselves continue to... Read More »
DARPA completes radiation-detection test throughout Washington, D.C.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) SIGMA program, a project aimed at preventing attacks from radiological or “dirty” bombs, recently completed its biggest test deployment of vehicle-mounted radiation detectors in Washington, D.C. The test, which began last July and... Read More »