News
Lawmakers lament Taliban cabinet appointments
A pair of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, expressing disapproval of the Taliban’s recently announced cabinet appointees. Reps. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and August Pfluger (R-TX),... Read More »
DHS Secretary says Afghan refugee surge won’t detract from international terrorism fight
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured Thursday the growing effort to combat domestic terrorism and the mass influx of Afghan refugees will not distract the agency from its ongoing efforts to guard against attacks from international terrorism. Speaking at the National Press Club... Read More »
Homeland Security chemists invent test for detecting cyanide exposure during fires
In the hunt for a solution to one of burning buildings’ most dangerous effects, chemists from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) have created a test that could help firefighters identify whether civilians have been exposed to toxic... Read More »
Legislation introduced in House to set five year, presidentially appointed term for CISA director
A group of United States representatives introduced the CISA Leadership Act this week, a bill that proposes to codify a five year term for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director and reaffirm the position as presidentially appointed, but Senate confirmed. While CISA... Read More »
Davis, LaHood announce 183d wing base project as part of National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) announced Friday that their request for a Illinois National Guard project will be included in the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA passed out of the House Armed Services Committee with a bipartisan 57-2 vote, and... Read More »Lawmakers seek Afghanistan evacuation guidance
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking guidance regarding the evacuation of Americans and others from Afghanistan. Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Zoe Lofgen (D-CA), and Jerry Nadler... Read More »
Report: 20 years after 9/11, America still not fully prepared for public health emergencies
A new report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has found that 20 years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, America is not fully prepared for public health emergencies. The report, 2021 Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases,... Read More »
Measure targets U.S-Israel AI development
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to establish a U.S.-Israel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Center. Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Mike Waltz (R-FL) presented the legislation as a... Read More »
Caucus targets U.S.-spearheaded global vaccination effort
A group of lawmakers launched the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus, which they said would advocate for vaccines as a means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) along with... Read More »
DoD uses option to acquire 200,000 doses of Valneva’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine
As part of a contract signed with Valneva SE last year, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has decided to utilize an option that will increase supply of the company’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IXIARO, to a minimum of 200,000 doses. Japanese encephalitis is a deadly infectious... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense lauds Biden’s Pandemic Preparedness Plan, but urges more funding
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense last week applauded the Biden Administration’s work on a new $65.3 billion American Pandemic Preparedness Plan for investments to combat the next biological threat, though it argues that greater funding is necessary to make sufficient plans. The White... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee advances bill to give D.C. mayor control over D.C. National Guard
In a national first, the House Armed Services Committee voted last week in favor of a bill that would grant the mayor of the District of Columbia authority over the D.C. National Guard, adding that provision to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Since its inception, the D.C. National... Read More »
Package of 11 AI amendments added to 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
Science fiction is becoming fact, according to United States Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) -- and as a result, he and fellow U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have successfully added 11 artificial intelligence (AI)-focused amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. While... Read More »
DARPA sensor system transitions to Air Force
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said a sensor system developed under the Arrays at Commercial Timescales - Integration and Validation (ACT-IV) program has transitioned to the Air Force. DARPA indicated Northrop Grumman, which serves as the ACT-IV program primary research... Read More »
TSA to acquire additional CT x-ray scanners
Analogic Corporation has secured a $198 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agreement to secure mid-sized Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for TSA checkpoints. “This award is another important step in enhancing aviation security,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske... Read More »
Argonne National Lab collaborations yield better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 proteins
Thanks to collaborations with commercial and academic research partners alike, the Argonne National Laboratory has published new research showing the capabilities of artificial intelligence and simulation workflows to provide insight to the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome and potentially fuel drug... Read More »
House bill proposes support for Americans affected by mysterious Havana Syndrome
A new House bill introduced by United States Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) -- the Havana Syndrome Service Member Support Act -- seeks to provide aid for those with Havana Syndrome-induced brain injuries and initiate federal efforts to address related... Read More »Phase 3 trial begins for SK bioscience and GSK COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Approximately 4,000 people from all over the world will be enrolled in a Phase 3 trial of a combined SK bioscience and GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate beginning this week. The trial will combine the SK COVID-19 vaccine candidate GBP510 with GSK’s pandemic... Read More »
CISA, FBI urge organizations to remain vigilant to ransomware threats over holidays
On Tuesday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a cybersecurity advisory that highlighted precautions and mitigation steps public and private sector organizations could take to reduce their risk of ransomware and other... Read More »
Lawmakers urge hate group network probe
A group of lawmakers are encouraging the Department of Justice to prioritize investigating hate group networks supporting extremist ideology. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently joined Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) in forwarding correspondence to... Read More »
DOD awards contracts for COVID-19 test kits and pipette tips
The Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded $194.5 million across two contracts for COVID-19 test kits and pipette tips. The awards, made in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), were funded via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base... Read More »
New WHO compendium charts 24 technologies to help low-resource nations with priority diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a compendium this week consisting of 24 innovative health technologies that could be used by low and middle-income countries to advance disease preparedness and response. “Innovative technologies are accelerating access to healthcare everywhere, but... Read More »
DOD grants $6.5 million award for polyester-tipped swab production
U.S. Cotton, LLC has secured a $6.5 million Department of Defense (DOD) contract to increase domestic production of polyester-tipped swabs used in COVID-19 home test kits. The effort, in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services, would also aid COVID-19 mass testing... Read More »
BARDA program seeks to expand development of digital health tools and at-home diagnostic tests
Thinking up ways to better address future public health emergencies, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) has expanded a partner program focused on technology development to include digital health tools and... Read More »
FBI releases hate crime statistics
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released 2020 Hate Crime Statistics compiled by the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program -- detailing offenses, victims, offenders and locations of hate crimes. Data was collected via submissions from 15,136 law enforcement agencies outlining... Read More »
Becerra declares public health emergencies in the wake of Hurricane Ida
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared public health emergencies on Monday for Louisiana and Mississippi due to the effects for Hurricane Ida. The declaration comes after President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for the two states. Together, the declarations give... Read More »
CDC issues health advisory over risks and mounting illnesses linked to Ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment
Although a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription medication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning last week that the drug ivermectin is not meant to be used for prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Failing to heed that warning... Read More »
California roundtable addresses federal wildfire assistance efforts
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently hosted local leaders in Santa Rosa, Calif., during a roundtable discussion regarding wildfire prevention, response and recovery efforts. The discussion and listening session stemmed from the White House's approval of Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for a... Read More »
DHS to Launch New Approach to Hiring Cyber Talent
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity Service has launched a new approach to hiring and retaining top cyber talent, the department said Friday. In order to recruit the best cybersecurity employees to work across cybersecurity specializations and DHS Component Agencies,... Read More »NIH begins study of extra COVID-19 vaccine dose effects on people with autoimmune disease
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) began a Phase 2 clinical trial last week to investigate any antibody response generated by an extra dose of authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccines among patients with autoimmune disease who experienced no response from a previous vaccine regimen. The... Read More »Summit highlights DOD Defense Industrial Workforce Strategy
During the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Summit in Danville, Virginia, Department of Defense (DOD) officials highlighted the agency's Defense Industrial Workforce Strategy. The presentation, Perspectives on Industrial Workforce Challenges, addressed perspectives on closing... Read More »Pandemic Action Network proposes financing global pandemic preparedness through UN-run fund
A new policy brief released this month by the advocacy group Pandemic Action Network (PAN) calls on world leaders to create a 100-day action plan toward creating a new financing mechanism at the United Nations General Assembly capable of bolstering pandemic preparedness by at least $10 billion... Read More »
NTI analysis recommends immediate action to manage use of AI in nuclear weapons systems
According to a new paper from the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), artificial intelligence in nuclear weapons systems is a neutral wash of possibilities -- but it also appears inevitable, and as a result, immediate action is needed to balance benefits and risks while the technology is... Read More »
HHS fills vacant public posts on tick-borne illness advisory group
New voices were added to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Tick-Borne Disease Working Group this week, filling positions left vacant by public members looking to workshop ideas on how best to counter rising cases of tick-borne illnesses. In all, seven new members... Read More »