News
Science Applications International Corp. secures Air Force CBC2 contract
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Science Applications International Corp. a $112 million contract to develop Cloud Based Command and Control (CBC2) for the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). The scope of work calls for SAIC to deliver command and control to the Department of the Air Force’s... Read More »
Legislation seeks to establish permanent bump stock ban
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI) recently introduced the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act, which seeks to ban bump stocks permanently. The bill stems from legal efforts to overturn the present bump stock regulatory ban. When attached to semiautomatic... Read More »
DHS awards $1.1M for seven federal labs researching technology commercialization
The United States Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) split $1.1 million between seven federal laboratories this week for federal research that could benefit Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions and homeland security stakeholders – and, potentially, find a market. The latter... Read More »
End of year government funding bill included public health measures from PREVENT Pandemics Act
As lawmakers process the passage of the government funding bill at the tail end of December 2022, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that major portions of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) were included in its... Read More »
TSA details 2022 accomplishments
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had a successful year in 2022, the agency reports, and commended personnel for several accomplishments. “I am incredibly proud of our dedicated TSA employees who perform the critical task of securing our nation’s transportation systems each... Read More »
Oshkosh Defense secures Army FMTV A2 order
The Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $141 Million order for 414 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles A2 (FMTV A2). The agreement also calls for the production of 56 FMTV trailers. The order serves increased force... Read More »
Northrop Grumman satellite completes successful launch for U.S. Space Force
A new satellite built by Northrop Grumman Corporation for the United States Space Force (USSF) successfully launched this week, supporting the Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE) program and the USSF-67 mission. Known as the LDPE-3A, this satellite was built using Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar... Read More »
DHS launches streamlined deferred action request process to support labor investigations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new process of deferred action requests for noncitizen workers victimized by or witnesses to the violation of labor rights, allowing them greater potential protections against exploitation. The change in process will shift more scrutiny... Read More »
Sens. Markey, Warren, Booker express concerns regarding southern border vigilante group
U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently expressed concerns regarding increased paramilitary vigilante groups patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border. The senators forwarded correspondence to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Rep. Cartwright applauds more than $180M federal prisons funding included in 2023 Government Spending Package
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) recently touted the benefits of $180,460,000 in additional Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) funding secured in the 2023 Government Spending Package. According to Cartwright, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies chair,... Read More »
House advances legislation prohibiting Strategic Petroleum Reserve products sent to China
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is commending House of Representatives colleagues for advancing a measure prohibiting sending Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) products to China. According to bill provisions, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22)... Read More »
Defense Department touts research, security agreements with Japanese Ministry of defense
Department of Defense (DoD) and Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials are commending recently signed Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E) and Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) agreements. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japan Minister of Defense... Read More »
CBP One mobile application adds scheduling system for border processing
As part of new methods to enhance border enforcement and expand tools for local immigration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week debuted a new scheduling function on the CBP One mobile application to allow appointment requests at land ports of entry. Only specific land ports... Read More »
GAO finds NNSA lacks comprehensive schedule or cost estimate for re-establishing plutonium pit production
Despite being required to develop the ability to make at least 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) current plans fail to follow best practices, increasing the odds of costly increases and delays, according to an investigation from the... Read More »
BAE Systems acquires $12M contract to supply advanced seeker system for U.S. Air Force targeting platforms
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded a $12 million, Phase 2 contract to BAE Systems this week to develop a low-cost, all-weather, multi-mode seeker system for use with maritime targeting from air-launched platforms. “Our new multi-mode modular seeker enables precision identification... Read More »
Officials applaud enactment of FedRAMP Authorization Act
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) officials are espousing the benefits of the FedRAMP Authorization Act being enacted as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Act organizes the FedRAMP program as the authoritative standardized approach to... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection updates internal framework for weighing risks of vehicular pursuits
A new directive from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service determined that changes were needed and clarity provided for weighing the risks of vehicular pursuit but refrained from banning the practice. The decision followed an extensive review of the agency’s past... Read More »
Justice Department details Georgia drug trafficking indictment
Justice Department officials have detailed a Southern District of Georgia federal indictment naming 76 defendants stemming from a drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang. Authorities indicated the indictment includes allegations of multiple deaths from... Read More »
New York funds seek to bolster cybersecurity initiatives
New York state officials are espousing the benefits of $35.2 million in new funding in support of statewide cybersecurity enhancements. “The frequency, magnitude, and impact of cyber-attacks have increased, but we will continue to take bold measures to secure and protect New York’s critical... Read More »
U.S. Fire Administration report highlights national fire threat, new strategy to combat it
Through an Executive Summary of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s report, released this week, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has put out both a warning of the dangers posed by growing wildfire issues and a series of recommendations and strategies for fighting back. The USFA is a component of... Read More »
WHO, CDC declare Ugandan Ebola outbreak over
It was the worst Ebola outbreak Uganda had experienced in decades, but after 42 days – or two incubation periods – since the last case was reported, the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have declared the viral threat over. “I... Read More »
TSA details record Philadelphia airport gun seizures
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said 44 guns detected in carry-on luggage in 2022 at Philadelphia International Airport represent a record for the most guns caught at the security checkpoint. “Our TSA officers are good at their jobs in helping to ensure that passengers get... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators head for Southwest Border on fact-finding mission
A delegation from the Senate headed to the United States-Mexican border this week in Texas and Arizona to explore issues related to security and humanitarian and economic challenges in the region and related to larger immigration concerns. The group, which included U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CN),... Read More »
Northrop Grumman details production of rocket motors for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
Northrop Grumman Corporation officials have detailed the company's production of rocket motors for the Army’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) - noting the action fulfills the full contract production quantity. “We are proactively investing in production facilities and... Read More »
White paper outlines tactical edge communications challenges
Military communications and network solutions company Fuse Integration has released a white paper examining the Joint All-Domain Command and Control system's (JADC2) role in addressing military tactical edge challenges. “U.S. and allied defense forces are facing an increasingly dynamic landscape... Read More »
House HELD Act pushes incentives for state, local law enforcement to comply with federal requests to transfer illegal immigrants
In an attempt to hasten the deportation of convicted illegal immigrants, United States Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) reintroduced the Help Ensure Legal Detainers (HELD) Act this week, a bill that would incentivize state and local law enforcement to transfer those immigrants to federal... Read More »
CBP outlines Morelos Dam construction plan
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have outlined the U.S. Border Patrol's Morelos Dam construction plan, noting the effort would close gaps in the border barrier. “The safety and security of our workforce, law enforcement partners, and the local community are a top priority,”... Read More »
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority secures FEMA energy production funding
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has been awarded over $68.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. "When disaster strikes, it is our foremost priority to ensure the Government of Puerto Rico has the tools necessary to... Read More »
U.S. re-emphasizes commitment to Ukraine with $3B new military package
Through the largest presidential drawdown authority committed to date, the Biden administration greenlit $2.85 billion in military equipment to benefit the Ukrainian military’s defense against the ongoing Russian invasion, along with $225 million in additional foreign military financing. "The... Read More »
DHS National Urban Security Technology Lab seeks information on commercially available VR, AR training tools
Based on its latest request for information (RFI), the United States Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) sees potential for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in training law enforcement and emergency response... Read More »DHS prepares for return to processing noncitizens under Title 8, despite public health order hangups
Currently, immigration to the United States is still bound by the requirements of the Title 42 public health order enacted in March 2020, but while the legality of this remains bound up in court, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated this week that it is preparing for a return to Title 8... Read More »
Oshkosh Defense secures Armored Personnel Carrier contract with Israeli Ministry of Defense
The Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has awarded Oshkosh Defense a contract valued at over $100 million to produce the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) hulls for the Israeli Defense Forces. Authorities noted production is slated to begin this year, with the first Eitan APC main hulls... Read More »
START releases interactive data map highlighting connections between January 6th defendants, extremist groups
While cases against participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection continue, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) waded into the matter last week with the launch of a new data map showcasing connections between defendants and extremist... Read More »
National Institutes of Health touts Home Test to Treat program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is touting the new Home Test to Treat program, a virtual community health intervention that provides free COVID-19 health services and treatments in selected communities. “At-home testing for COVID-19 is now widely available in the United States, as are... Read More »