News
Border Patrol seizes 1,000 fentanyl pills at Highway 111 checkpoint
Following investigation by Border Patrol agents in Southern California -- El Centro Sector -- some 1,000 fentanyl pills were seized last week at a checkpoint and two United States citizens arrested for smuggling. A pair of 33-year-old men were detained with what amounted to $6,500 worth of... Read More »
DHS awards $1 million to firm for soft target, crowded places software security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $999,644 to a California-based small business, Karagozian & Case, Inc., for development of an advanced software option that would allow security professionals to view their environments through a mobile device. “As crowded places... Read More »
Study examines substance use, COVID-19 risk
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study has determined vaccinated persons with substance use disorders are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. “First and foremost, vaccination is highly effective for people with substance use disorders, and the overall risk of COVID-19 among vaccinated people... Read More »
Moderna initiates Africa-based mRNA facility
Moderna officials said the company is slated to build a messenger RNA (mRNA) facility in Africa, producing up to 500 million vaccine doses annually at the 50 microgram dose level. “Since Moderna’s founding in 2010, our mission has been to make a transformative impact on human lives through... Read More »
Cybersecurity bills advance in U.S. Senate
Two bipartisan bills from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) on cybersecurity and infrastructure were approved by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and now head to the full Senate for a vote. The bills, which require critical infrastructure owners... Read More »
U.S.-Israel partnership targets homeland security technology development
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) officials are touting a partnership to aid homeland security technology development. The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Homeland Security (BIRD... Read More »
Bill seeks to address critical infrastructure cyber attacks
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said is designed to protect systemically important critical infrastructure (SICI) from cyber attacks. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently detailed the the Securing Systemically Important Critical Infrastructure Act,... Read More »
BARDA to support Phase 3 trial of treatment for C. difficile bacterial infections
VE303, an oral treatment developed by Vedanta Biosciences for patients at high risk of recurrent C. difficile infections (CDI), will get a Phase 3 clinical evaluation trial, thanks to support from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Support from the U.S. government... Read More »
WHO approves world’s first malaria vaccine for children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the first vaccine to treat malaria in children, a mosquito-borne disease that kills more than 260,000 children under the age of five annually in sub-Saharan Africa, in what public health officials have called a historic development. “The... Read More »
AstraZeneca requests FDA emergency use authorization for long-acting COVID-19 antibody combination
Although its COVID-19 vaccine was never authorized for use in the United States, AstraZeneca submitted a request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination for use against symptomatic... Read More »
HHS tabs Emory University for disaster healthcare demonstration
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials said the agency has selected Emory University to lead the latest Regional Disaster Health Response System site. HHS noted Emory University is the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response's (ASPR) fourth site selected to... Read More »Johnson & Johnson requests FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 booster vaccine
Ending speculation, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) this week officially submitted data to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request emergency use authorization (EUA) for a booster version of its COVID-19 vaccine among patients at least 18 years old. Recent data showed that the J&J... Read More »
Northam announces infrastructure upgrades to support nitrile glove project
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that his state’s pledge to invest $8.5 million in infrastructure upgrades to Progress Park was a catalyst for a manufacturing venture to commit to building an operating center in the area. The joint venture would build a manufacturing operation in... Read More »
Johns Hopkins recommends policy changes for masks, respirators
A newly released Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health report has detailed recommended federal policy changes regarding masks and respirators. The report, Masks and Respirators for the 21st Century: Policy Changes Needed to Save Lives and Prevent... Read More »
DHS completes vaccination campaign for Afghan evacuees
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) completed Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a nationwide vaccination campaign focused on Afghan evacuees temporarily housed at eight domestic military installations. As part of the initiative, 49,000 evacuees have been immunized for measles, mumps, rubella... Read More »
FDA approves over-the-counter COVID-19 home test
The over-the-counter (OTC) ACON Laboratories Flowflex COVID-19 Home Test has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization. FDA officials said the approval serves as testament to the agency's commitment to increasing the availability of accurate and reliable OTC tests to... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense warns of biological threats to critical U.S. infrastructure
In a new report issued this week, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense warned that the United States needs to protect infrastructure, share and secure information, and maintain public works and services, or risk further devastation from biological threats like COVID-19. The report was titled... Read More »
Dynavax to develop adjuvant plague vaccine under $22 million DoD contract
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) awarded an agreement worth approximately $22 million to the biopharmaceutical developer Dynavax Technologies Corporation this week, giving it two and a half years to develop an adjuvanted recombinant plague vaccine. That vaccine will be adjuvanted with... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman release legislation bolstering federal cybersecurity
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) released the text of their legislation that would strengthen cybersecurity across the federal government. The legislation, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2021, would update existing legislation which has not been updated... Read More »
FDA to meet on authorizing COVID-19 boosters, child vaccines
According to an announcement from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week, two upcoming meetings of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will be held next week to address the newest COVID-19 vaccine data. These meetings will be... Read More »
DHS initiates air domain awareness demonstrations at northern border
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is evaluating air domain awareness technologies as a means of protecting northern border airspace. S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory recently spearheaded a test team that... Read More »
Biological Weapons Policy Act seeks crackdown on bioweapons, countries of concern
A bill introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the Biological Weapons Policy Act (S. 2912), seeks to quash further bioweapons development through greater scrutiny of U.S. research collaborations, greater State Department oversight and use of United Nations tools. Specifically, the bill... Read More »
Senate Republicans introduce Afghanistan measure
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have joined 21 Senate colleagues in introducing a measure they said addresses concerns regarding Afghanistan's leadership and accountability. The Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act would, among other provisions, form... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to reduce violence from stolen firearms
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced legislation on Friday aimed at preventing theft from federally-licensed gun dealers, as a way to reduce gun violence. The Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective (SECURE) Firearm... Read More »
House passes bills sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Republicans
The House of Representatives advanced a trio of bills sponsored by Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee Republicans focused on air travel security, foreign manufactured drones and contract award transparency. Committee Ranking Member Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced the One-Stop Pilot... Read More »
DEA seizes historic amount of fentanyl-laced pills
On Thursday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced it had seized more than 1.8 million fake fentanyl-laced pills and arrested 810 suspects in a two-month organized nationwide law enforcement effort. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram... Read More »
Report shows reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths among users of Merck antiviral
Results of an interim analysis for the Phase 3 trial of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral for COVID-19 produced by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, showed the drug capable of cutting hospitalization or death risk approximately in half. For the purposes of the trial, over the... Read More »
Senators urge Biden to reduce trade barriers amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Leaders of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness wrote to President Joe Biden this week requesting more work to remove medical trade barriers and bolster distribution to better combat the global spread of COVID-19. U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE)... Read More »
Bill addresses national security powers
A group of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said seeks to reassert congressional power regarding national security matters. House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight,... Read More »
DHS addresses law enforcement best practices
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency has formed the Law Enforcement Coordination Council (LECC) to assess varied law enforcement matters -- including its law enforcement policies and training. “Law enforcement is a noble profession," DHS Secretary Alejandro N.... Read More »
Lawrence Livermore scientists develop antidote to treat sarin exposure, research other nerve agents
Nerve agent poisoning can result in a quick death, causing the central and peripheral nervous systems to shut down. For those fortunate enough to receive medical care and survive exposure, long-lasting side effects are probable, including seizures, extreme muscle spasms, and diminished mental... Read More »
Bill helps law enforcement with drug detection
A group of lawmakers introduced the Providing Officers with Electronic Resources (POWER) Act, which they said would provide state and local law enforcement with drug detection devices. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said the measure would establish a new grant program via the Department of Justice... Read More »