News
CBP reports one-week, $14.4M narcotics seizures at Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry
Over the last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials reported that three methamphetamine and cocaine seizures at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry yielded narcotics with a street value of more than $14.4 million. These events occurred on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17,... Read More »
NIAID awards more than $12M for development of antiviral therapeutics
As part of its Antiviral Program for Pandemics (APP), meant to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing of antivirals, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently awarded more than $12 million to three institutions for new therapies. These new... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Reschenthaler, Waltz call on Biden administration to counter Iranian attacks in Iraq
Although the United States has largely withdrawn from Iraq in recent years, U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Mike Waltz (R-FL) last week urged the Biden administration to respond to recent Iranian attacks in the country and deter future aggression. “As Iran continues to sow chaos and... Read More »
Reps. Thompson, Maloney request review of GAO water sector efforts
U.S. Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) recently requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study evaluating the efforts of two agencies identifying wastewater utilities vulnerable to potential shutdowns. Thompson, chair of the Committee on Homeland... Read More »
TSA initiates CAT-2 resource at Denver International Airport
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are espousing the benefits of the agency implementing the next generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) at Denver International Airport. The CAT-2 units used to verify the identity of travelers possess the same capabilities... Read More »
SEPTA selects ZeroEyes AI-based gun detection system for pilot program on train platforms
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced last week that ZeroEyes, a company with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based gun detection video analytics platform, will run a pilot program designed to reduce violence on train platforms. Currently, ZeroEyes’ automated... Read More »
Hearing examines homeland security threats
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSHAC) personnel, spearheaded by Chairman Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), noted they recently convened a hearing to explore expanding homeland security threats. “More than 20 years ago, the September 11th terrorist attacks changed our nation... Read More »
CBP warns of counterfeit products during holiday shopping season as seizures of fake products reach record levels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cautioned consumers heading into the holiday shopping season to be on the lookout for counterfeit products in the wake of the agency’s largest seizure of fake products to date. Most pirated items include apparel, accessories, watches, jewelry, and... Read More »
Democratic, bicameral legislators praise FIRE Act advancement in House
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) applauded the recent House of Representatives advancement of the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, which seeks to improve wildfire preparedness and... Read More »
DHS S&T awards companies more than $730,000 for creative ways to improve workforce safety
In exchange for new solutions to identify and resolve issues, and to promote resilience and wellness among its workforce, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded five companies more than $730,000 in total funding last week. Awards stemmed... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Scott applaud advancement of Disaster Resiliency Planning Act
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) are commending the House of Representatives' passage of the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act, which now moves to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. The measure, which garnered Senate approval in June, requires federal agencies to... Read More »
New report shows DHS, FBI failed to track and report threats from domestic terrorists
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, this week released the results of an investigation into the rise of domestic terrorism and federal actions against it – and alleged that it has come up short. Specifically, he pointed to... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators urge DoD to protect military family housing rights
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently joined U.S. Sen. Jon Osoff (D-GA) in urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to protect military families from private housing contractors... Read More »
DHS details conference addressing violence, terrorism prevention
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently touted the initial Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grantee symposium, uniting over 200 representatives from 73 grantees and partner organizations. The effort involved sharing practices; increasing awareness of DHS... Read More »
GAO issues potential Chinese nationals technology transfer recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recommendations to address Chinese nationals potentially transferring technology to foreign entities. Per the GAO, a third of foreign graduate students studying science, technology, engineering, and... Read More »
Sandia National Lab publishes review of vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging infrastructure
A team at Sandia National Laboratories completed four years of work on and published a summary of various vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging infrastructure this week in the journal Energies, drawing attention to the risks of evolution. While all growth comes with its share of risks,... Read More »
Treasury Department outlines transnational network sanctions
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has outlined sanctions against a transnational network procuring technology they maintain supports the Russian military-industrial complex. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) initiated the sanctions in conjunction with the U.S.... Read More »
New York Attorney General investigation yields cease and desist letters against 39 ammunition sellers
At least 39 ammunition sellers have been shipping ammunition directly to New York residents and failing to keep records of the transactions in violation of state law, according to the results of an investigation announced this week by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Under the New York... Read More »
SAIC secures Army contract for software management services
The U.S. Army has awarded Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) a contract to continue providing Army Enterprise Service Desk (AESD) software development and management services. The single-award contract possesses an estimated ceiling value of $757 million. The scope of work... Read More »
Homeland Security S&T awards nearly $200,000 to startup Flux Tensor for motion-identifying algorithms
The startup Flux Tensor captured the interest of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week with the potential to apply motion-identifying algorithms to complex security videos and improve safety for soft targets. The department... Read More »
GAO examines DoD weapon systems sustainment
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study examining Department of Defense (DoD) weapon system sustainment maintains aircraft mission capable goals were generally not met and sustainment costs varied by aircraft. The GAO report provided observations regarding mission-capable rates and costs... Read More »
DHS S&T awards $198,000 award to Lauretta AI to customize anomaly detection systems for extra protection
Lauretta AI, an Arlington, Mass. startup, received $198,000 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) this week for work on a commercial artificial intelligence solution capable of making an adaptable anomaly detection system to secure soft... Read More »
Government Accountability Office report details path for TSA to eliminate potential discrimination in airport screenings
Airport screenings have long been a source of consternation for many and rife with accusations of discrimination in their handling – but a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report laid out a path for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to take to reduce the potential for... Read More »
Rep. Torres seeking oversight of DoD military equipment transfer
U.S. Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) is requesting further oversight regarding the U.S. Department of Defense's recent transfer of military equipment to the Guatemalan government. Torres has forwarded correspondence to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken... Read More »
DOJ outlines ransomware campaign criminal complaint
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently detailed a criminal complaint charging a dual Russian and Canadian national for alleged participation in the LockBit global ransomware campaign. Mikhail Vasiliev, 33, of Bradford, Ontario, Canada, is in custody in Canada and awaiting extradition to the... Read More »
Rep. Norcross touts community policing funding allocation
U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) is commending a Department of Justice (DOJ) allocation of $201,480 to Camden County to fund local community policing initiatives in south Jersey. The grant, awarded through the DOJ’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, would provide... Read More »
First look at global vaccine market since COVID-19 shows development still lagging due to profit-over-health mindset
Capitalistic values continue to hinder vaccine development, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first report on the global vaccine market since COVID-19, with prioritizes vaccines not being developed due to limited profit potential and limited access for lower-income countries... Read More »
Coast Guard details continuity of operations exercise participation
Coast Guard officials recently espoused the benefits of the service branch's recent participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-spearheaded federal continuity of operations (COOP) exercise. “The exercise went well,” Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management and Disaster... Read More »
TSA outlines Denver airport hiring initiative
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said the agency has initiated a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) new hire incentive program to attract more Denver International Airport (DEN) applicants. Full and part-time positions are available with a starting wage of $24.23 per... Read More »
Northrop Grumman completes final assessment of Integrated Battle Command System for U.S. Army
The fate of the new Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) now rests in the hands of the U.S. Army after Northrop Grumman Corporation completed its final assessment of the sensor system this week. ICBS is meant to be a battlespace enhancer, allowing soldiers to move beyond single... Read More »
CBP holds local training on Jones Act specificity in New Orleans
Earlier this month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held a training exercise on enforcement of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, a complex and tricky law that demands specificity from federal agents. When established, the law limited how cargo could be... Read More »
BAE, Inzpire detail military training collaboration
BAE Systems and Inzpire, a live and synthetic armed forces training company, are touting a collaboration to bolster military training efforts. A Memorandum of Understanding enables the exploration of opportunities to unite Inzpire’s collective training expertise with BAE Systems’ future... Read More »
Reps. Garbarino, Gallagher urge President Biden to work on Continuity of the Economy disaster plan
Two Republican legislators are criticizing the Biden administration for not developing or implementing an emergency plan for the U.S. economy in the event of a disaster, despite being required to do so within two years by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. In a letter to President... Read More »
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center wins $9.42M cooperative agreement with IARPA to investigate radiation exposure biomarkers
Through a federal cooperative agreement with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) announced this week that they are working on non-invasive means of detecting and preventing radiation... Read More »