News
BARDA and Lumen Bioscience developing intranasal antibody treatment for COVID-19
As part of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) Beyond the Needle program, Lumen Bioscience is working to create a new antibody cocktail for treatment of SARS-CoV-2, delivered intranasally. Beyond the Needle, managed by the Division of Research Innovation and... Read More »NIST initiates First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge
The Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new competition they said seeks to advance first responder use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge would enhance first responder indoor search and rescue... Read More »
DOJ launches National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab
The U.S. Department of Justice launched the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab, a resource hub for law enforcement personnel that will promote constitutional policing, improve public safety, and build trust in communities. “Providing law enforcement with the tools, resources and support... Read More »
GOP senators introduce bill to protect vaccine manufacturers’ intellectual property rights
Accusing the Biden administration of opening the fruits of American vaccine development to abuse by foreign nations, United States Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and several Republican colleagues have introduced a bill to block the federal government from waiving intellectual property rights. Through... Read More »
Measure targets defense budget transparency
Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Kaialiʻi Kahele (D-HI) have introduced a bill they said seeks to bolster public understanding of the manner in which defense budget tax dollars are allocated. Their bill -- the Defense Budget Transparency Act of 2022 (H.R. 7574) -- directs the Secretary of Defense to... Read More »Bill would bar Russian and Belarussian nationals from DOE labs
Seeking to expand the domestic response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, United States Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced a bill this week that would prohibit both Russian and Belarussian nationals from working in Department of Energy (DOE) research... Read More »
U.S. Air Force taps Boeing for E-7 Wedgetail
The U.S. Air Force is enlisting the services of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company to replace a portion of the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System fleet with the E-7 Wedgetail. The Boeing E-7 Wedgetail represents the only platform capable of meeting Defense Department tactical... Read More »
Positive data reported for Valneva, Pfizer’s Lyme disease vaccine candidate for children
A Lyme disease vaccine candidate for adults and children at least 5 years old produced strong immunogenicity, safety and overall positive results this week in a Phase 2 trial conducted by its developers, Valneva SE and Pfizer Inc. This marked the first clinical study where VLA15, as the... Read More »
Bill seeks to block Biden from deploying veteran resources on southern border
A group of Republican lawmakers have introduced a measure that would prohibit the Biden administration from deploying veterans' resources as a means of managing the southern border. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) joined Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jim Inhofe... Read More »
U.S. Secret Service hosts Cyber Incident Response Simulation
Ransomware was the focus of a Cyber Incident Response Simulation hosted by the United States Secret Service this week, which gathered together fellow government agencies, executive business leaders and law enforcement to address cyberattacks and how to respond. “Our cyber incident response... Read More »
NTI hosts more than 40 nuclear experts at fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum
The nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) drew together dozens of nuclear experts from 15 countries and international organizations earlier this month for its fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum, dedicated to addressing ransomware, supply chain issues, workforce maintenance, and effective security.... Read More »
Biden administration releases first national action plan to counter malicious drone activity
The rapid introduction and expansion of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, into daily life has created a host of additional safety and privacy concerns as well, and this week those concerns prompted the Biden administration to introduce the first Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems... Read More »
Raytheon secures Navy engineering agreement for Zumalt-class destroyers
Navy officials said the service branch has awarded a $483 million contract with options to Raytheon Missiles & Defense to complete Zumwalt-class destroyers activation and fleet introduction. If exercised, the agreement will total $1.68 billion across five years while continuing to develop... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate DoD civilian harm accountability
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, III, encouraging the agency to bolster efforts to address civilian harm. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) joined colleagues U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy... Read More »
WHO recommends Paxlovid as treatment for high risk COVID-19 patients, but warns of roadblocks
While adding Paxlovid – nirmatrelvir and ritonavir – to its list of recommended treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at risk of hospital admission, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that lack of price transparency at Pfizer Inc. and testing demands before administration... Read More »
Congress members call for Russia to be designated state sponsor of terrorism
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. State Department to determine whether or not Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the... Read More »
Hackers, cybersecurity researchers identify vulnerabilities at DHS as part of Hack DHS program
Encouraged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 450 vetted security researchers and ethical hackers rooted through select external DHS systems and turned up 122 vulnerabilities, earning a cash prize for their efforts. The first phase of the Hack DHS buck hunting program... Read More »
FEMA to assess PA, MD radiological emergency preparedness
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is slated to evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise, focusing on Pennsylvania and Maryland responses. The assessment specifically involved communities around the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The effort calls for FEMA... Read More »
National Drug Control Strategy forwarded to Congress
President Joe Biden has forwarded to Congress his administration's first National Drug Control Strategy, which is an initiative focused on a whole-of-government approach to address the overdose epidemic. “This Strategy goes after two big drivers of the opioid epidemic: untreated addiction and... Read More »
DoD opens new Defense Innovation Unit office in Chicago
Chicago gained a satellite office for the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) last week, which the agency will use to identify new solutions, companies, and people in the Midwest capable of helping with national security challenges. "The opening of this Defense... Read More »
ASPR celebrates construction of new research and development facility for production of prefilled injectors
The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) celebrated the completion of the initial design and construction last week for a new ApiJect Technology Development Center that promises greater manufacturing capacity for prefilled injectors used to administer vaccines... Read More »
Bechtel details VX nerve agent elimination
Engineering, construction, and project management firm Bechtel recently detailed the elimination of the last U.S. chemical weapon containing VX nerve agent. The action was executed at the Bechtel-led Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) near Richmond, Kentucky, marking... Read More »
Rep. Katko commends enactment of Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the enactment of his Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) expands support for Shadow Wolves officers performing critical duties and bolsters the southern border. The Shadow Wolves, part of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, are a Native American tactical... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic begins phase 3 clinical trial of MVA-BN RSV vaccine for older adults
A global, Phase 3 trial of approximately 20,000 older adult volunteers for the Bavarian Nordic A/S MVA-BN RSV vaccine candidate began this week and is expected to produce results by mid-2023. The randomized, double-blind test will gather those aged 60 years and older in both the United States... Read More »
U.S. intelligence community, international partners issue advisory on demonstrated Russian cyber threats
A joint cybersecurity advisory was issued this week by a collection of various U.S. intelligence and security agencies, as well as international partners, providing a comprehensive overview of Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats to critical infrastructure. This focus on Russia... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $260M funding for Counter-Unmanned System Threats
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded $259,831,989 to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to support S&T’s Counter-Unmanned System Threats (C-UST) efforts. Amentum Services, Inc.,... Read More »
Moderna’s bivalent COVID-19 booster platform effective against Beta, Delta and Omicron variants
New clinical data from Moderna, Inc. this week showed that a month after using a bivalent COVID-19 booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, superior vaccination efficacy was maintained against all variants of concern, including Beta, Delta, and Omicron. These results stemmed from 50 µg booster doses,... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for DHS radiation portal monitor acquisition
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding radiation portal monitor acquisition efforts. The recommendations stem from DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) replacing radiation portal... Read More »
CDC launches Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics to improve public health data response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week the launch of the new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA). The latest addition to the CDC umbrella will focus on improving U.S. capabilities to utilize data, models, and analytics for quicker decision-making... Read More »
House Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act proposes federal system migration to quantum-resistant cryptography
In an effort to safeguard information on federal systems, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation this week promoting a transition of governmental IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. The Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act... Read More »
More than 200 military cadets, civilian interns participate in three-day NSA Cyber Exercise
The National Security Agency (NSA) held its annual three-day NSA Cyber Exercise (NCX) earlier this month, gathering participants from various military academies, universities, and more to develop and test their cybersecurity skills. While the U.S. Air Force Academy was crowned the winner of the... Read More »
Law enforcement collaboration targets human trafficking
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., recently partnered with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association to detect, deter and raise human trafficking awareness. Operation Safe Passage is a high‐visibility... Read More »
Sen. Tester expresses support for opening northern border ports
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus, advocating pre-pandemic operations resume at Montana ports of entry. “We have made significant headway in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, yet most ports of entry in... Read More »
Rep. Kim introduces bill to improve enforcement coordination, crack down on retail crime
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 7499), a bipartisan bill to improve how law enforcement handles organized retail crime. According to a 2019 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Buy Safe... Read More »