News
Federal funds to aid three Oregon fire districts
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are espousing the benefits of three Oregon fire districts receiving a combined nearly $100,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). The City of Coos Bay would receive an allotment of $32,380, while Siletz Rural Fire Protection... Read More »
FEMA launches $50M loan fund to reduce natural hazard, climate change vulnerabilities at state, local levels
Under the direction of the Biden administration and drawing on funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will create a $50 million Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program to bolster state and local government efforts to fight natural... Read More »
Reps. Sarbanes, Pappas join colleagues in expressing concerns with Turkey’s missile defense systems, F-16
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, indicating concerns about Turkey reportedly considering acquiring Russian S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. Reps. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) joined 18 colleagues in also restating... Read More »
BARDA seeks opinions on new partnership model for medical countermeasures
Turning to the public, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) released a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) this week to gather input on an idea for a new Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle meant to be the guiding model for health security acquisitions. Its development could... Read More »
HHS providing $11M to Michigan manufacturer for domestic monkeypox vaccine production
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) of Grand Rapids, Mich., secured its place as the first face of domestic manufacturing for the JYNNEOS smallpox and monkeypox vaccine this week, thanks to an award of approximately $11 million in support from the United States Department of Health and Human... Read More »
Sen. Ernst advocates for prevention of southern border terrorist flow
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging DHS action regarding reported increased southern border terrorist apprehensions. “Recent reports have shown an increase of terrorist apprehensions in recent... Read More »
DoD initiates pilot program for the manufacturing of commercial, military technology
The U.S. Department of Defense's Industrial Base Policy Office recently launched a manufacturing pilot program with the Austin Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) in Austin, Texas. The Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program initiative is slated to focus on advanced... Read More »
Raytheon Missiles & Defense wins $182M U.S. Army contract to supply mid-range air defense to Ukraine
As the war between Ukraine and Russia enters into its sixth month, the U.S. Army is still finding new ways to help its eastern European ally, and as of last week, that support took the form of a $182 million contract with Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The company, formed through a combination of... Read More »
Caucus targets civilian harm prevention, response efforts
U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) recently formed a congressional caucus that seeks to prevent, reduce and offer a response to civilian harm resulting from U.S. and partners’ operations. The action stems from the... Read More »
N95 supply no longer in shortage, FDA reports
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially removed N95 respirators from its list of medical device shortages, deeming the personal protective equipment (PPE) in sufficient supply now after supply chain issues that roiled much of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the agency will continue... Read More »
Boeing delivers four MH-139A aircraft to Air Force
Aerospace company Boeing has delivered four MH-139A Grey Wolf test aircraft to the Air Force as it prepares to replace its aging UH-1N helicopter fleet. “The Grey Wolf is a modern, versatile aircraft offering greater range, speed and endurance than the UH-1N Huey it replaces,” Boeing... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Murray pushes federal wildfire disaster response in roundtable with local firefighters
At a roundtable with local firefighters and Kittitas and Yakima County officials in Washington, United States Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), drove home the need for -- and her efforts to secure -- additional federal wildfire disaster prevention and mitigation funding. Kittitas County has experienced... Read More »
Grand jury indicts MS-13 gang members, reports DOJ
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas indicted 10 alleged MS-13 gang members with a series of crimes. The alleged crimes, according to the Department of Justice, include racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, related... Read More »U.S. Sen. Rounds introduces bill to pay for school safety with redirected renewable energy funds
In an effort to improve school safety at the state and local levels, United States Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) last week introduced the Security to Avoid Violence in Educational Settings (SAVES) Act, which would create a new federal grant program. The Department of Justice would be in charge of a... Read More »
CISA offers post-quantum cryptography roadmap
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released Preparing Critical Infrastructure for Post-Quantum Cryptography, a guide which provides critical infrastructure and government network owners with essential updates. The analysis also provides operators with an overview of... Read More »
Lawmakers say ease of access to radiological material requires immediate action by NRC
Leaders from the House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security joined forces in a letter this week to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), pressing for urgent action to close vulnerabilities in the oversight of radiological material purchases. Spurring the letter was a covert... Read More »Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft arrive in North Dakota for hypersonic missile testing
At a ceremony hosted by United States Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), the arrival of all 20 of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft to Grand Sky, North Dakota was cheered, as it marks the next step in the Sky Range hypersonic missile testing program. Sky Range seeks to... Read More »BAE Systems wins Navy contract to modernize destroyer
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $107.7 million contract to modernize the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71). Authorities noted the extended dry-docking selected restricted availability (EDSRA) pact calls for BAE Systems to execute the modernization work at its Norfolk, Virginia... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Hagerty express concerns regarding DHS, State Department determination allowing “terrorist-linked” individuals to enter U.S.
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have joined eight colleagues in expressing concerns regarding a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State determination that "terrorist-linked" individuals are no longer barred from entering the United States. The... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense receives $5.2M Open Philanthropy grant for bio-preparation work
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense announced Tuesday that it had received a $5.2 million grant from Open Philanthropy to strengthen efforts to improve preparation for biological incidents, ranging from pandemics and zoonotic diseases to biological terrorism and warfare. The private... Read More »
Moderna finishes FDA application for emergency use authorization of Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster vaccine
Moderna, Inc. announced this week that it has finished its submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its BA.4/BA.5 Omicron-focused bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine. The candidate, or mRNA-1273.222, would be formulated as a... Read More »
DHS S&T funds earmarked for AI software development
Volt Athletics, Inc., based in Seattle, Wash., has secured a $199,730 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) award to develop its Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system. “DHS recognizes that wellness is a complex issue and is engaging the private... Read More »
BARDA exercises contract option for additional smallpox treatments in early 2023
Amid a monkeypox outbreak that continues to grow internationally, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) exercised an option on an existing contract this week to acquire additional intravenous (IV) doses of the TPOXX smallpox treatment. TPOXX is a U.S. Food and Drug... Read More »
Nonprofit Security Grant Program allocate funds for two faith-based security initiatives
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently announced funding for their respective states to aid faith-based and other nonprofit organizations in securing their facilities against terrorist attacks and acts of hate. Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and... Read More »
DARPA details NOMARS program progression
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has advanced to the second phase of its No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program, selecting Serco Inc. for design elements. The NOMARS initiative targets building and demonstrating a new medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) capable of going... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection appoints Roque Caza port director for Calexico
The Calexico Port of Entry gained a new port director this week, with the United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) appointment of Roque Caza, previously the director of the CBP Counter Network Division (CND). Calexico is the third busiest of six land border crossings under the... Read More »
Whistleblowers prompt questions over COVID-19 vaccine mislabeling, unauthorized manufacturing
In a letter to leadership at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) revealed nine whistleblowers had disclosed concerns of mislabeling and unauthorized manufacturing of... Read More »
DARPA seeks to bolster microelectronics manufacturing
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals to enhance microelectronics manufacturing efforts. DARPA’s Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing (NGMM) seeks to create a new, domestic-based center for research and development and 3DHI microsystems... Read More »
Rep. Maloney introduces legislation seeking gun manufacturer accountability
U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) recently introduced two pieces of legislation to combat gun violence by establishing gun manufacturer accountability. The Firearm Industry Fairness Act would tax firearm manufacturers producing semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines at a rate of 20... Read More »
DHS, national law enforcement organizations host two-day 2022 Intelligence Summit
At the first summit of its kind in 15 years, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and various national law enforcement organizations gathered in Alexandria, Va., Aug. 17-18, 2022, to network and improve information sharing on national and public security. “In the 20 years since 9/11,... Read More »
Couple facing CBP trusted traveler status revocation after failing to declare nearly $100,000 in designer goods
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said a Maryland couple faces CBP trusted traveler status revocation after failing to declare nearly $100,000 in designer brand consumer goods purchased overseas. Both individuals were Global Entry trusted traveler members. Global Entry is the... Read More »
HHS-aided agreement between Bavarian Nordic and Michigan-based GRAM to create first fill and finish line for monkeypox vaccine
Bavarian Nordic reached an agreement last week with pharmaceutical contract manufacturer Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM), making arrangements backed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create the first U.S. fill and finish line for the JYNNEOS vaccine. JYNNEOS... Read More »
TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act signed into law, funding collaborations with mental health experts
With signature from President Joe Biden, the TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act became law last week, authorizing $270 million over five years to continue the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and to fund a new police training program. The legislation seeks to... Read More »
U.S. Forest Service adds Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft
Textron Aviation has delivered two Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft to the U.S. Forest Service, with the aircraft manufacturing noting the aircraft would perform wildfire mapping missions. “We are honored the U.S. Forest Service has added the King Air 260 to its fleet,” Textron Aviation... Read More »