Threats
DHS prepares for return to processing noncitizens under Title 8, despite public health order hangups
Currently, immigration to the United States is still bound by the requirements of the Title 42 public health order enacted in March 2020, but while the legality of this remains bound up in court, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated this week that it is preparing for a return to Title 8... Read More »
START releases interactive data map highlighting connections between January 6th defendants, extremist groups
While cases against participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection continue, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) waded into the matter last week with the launch of a new data map showcasing connections between defendants and extremist... Read More »
National Institutes of Health touts Home Test to Treat program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is touting the new Home Test to Treat program, a virtual community health intervention that provides free COVID-19 health services and treatments in selected communities. “At-home testing for COVID-19 is now widely available in the United States, as are... Read More »
NIST creates new yeast-based reference material for biothreat training
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a reference material based on baker’s yeast cells – a harmless yet living biological material – that they intend to use for training first responders on biothreats. “Suspicious powder incidents occur... Read More »
DEA details Louisville Division fentanyl seizures
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that, last year, the Louisville Division yielded the seizure of 184,382 fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and 316 pounds of Fentanyl powder. “Fentanyl is a national problem, and it’s landed right on our doorstep,” DEA Louisville... Read More »
South Texas CBP officers note major uptick of illegal immigrants encountered and cocaine seized
Last year brought serious increases in encounters along south Texas ports of entry, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, who reported 10,243 pounds of cocaine seized and 57,732 non-U.S. citizens encountered in violation of immigration laws. The figures spanned the... Read More »
DEA details Omaha Division fentanyl seizures
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed the Omaha Division's seizure of nearly 4.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl in both pill and powder form throughout 2022. “The amount of fentanyl we’ve seized across our Division has far surpassed our totals from last year,” DEA... Read More »
DHS S&T details gunshot detection technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently announced a collaboration with Shooter Detection Systems (SDS) based in Rowly, Mass., which resulted in the development of SDS Outdoor, a portable Gunshot Detection System technology to aid law... Read More »
Justice Department launches civil lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen, subsidiaries for violations of Controlled Substances Act
In a civil complaint filed last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a nationwide lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, which together form one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors, for violating federal law on the distribution of controlled... Read More »
CDC sticks COVID-19 test requirements on air passengers from China
Even as China reopens itself to travel following years of heavy restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its citizens face a new roadblock from entry to the United States: a demand for negative COVID-19 tests for any flier. The restriction was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
Lawmakers tout Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act enactment
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded their Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, which aids disaster mitigation projects, being signed into law. Specifically, the legislation makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI)... Read More »
Quantum Computer Cybersecurity Preparedness Act encourages proactive federal cybersecurity
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act became law this week in the United States, establishing a series of new priorities and requirements for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to guide federal cybersecurity to post-quantum cryptography. Specifically, the legislation–... Read More »
Resolution targets illicit trade, money laundering
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said his resolution encouraging Congress to combat international criminal organizations, illicit trade, and the use of trade-based money laundering (TBML) has garnered Senate approval. Cassidy was joined by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)... Read More »
HHS expands Tamiflu access for flu season
With flu season in full swing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that additional supplies of Tamiflu would be tapped to meet increased demand. Jurisdictions will manage any Tamiflu requests through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) in collaboration... Read More »
PFAS Act signed into law, mandating new efforts to protect firefighters from forever chemicals
With a signature from President Joe Biden, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act became law this week, officially directing federal agencies to create new best practices, training, and educational programs to limit and shield firefighters from exposure to hazardous... Read More »
DEA details nearly 51 million fentanyl seizures in past calendar year, according to report
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed the seizure of more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and over 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder this calendar year. “In the past year, the men and women of the DEA have relentlessly worked to seize over 379... Read More »
FEMA outlines community resilience program funding opportunity
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) on Feb. 1, 2023. The RILF seeks to foster greater community resilience while reducing disaster vulnerability and suffering, noting the Bipartisan... Read More »
DARPA announces AI for Critical Mineral Assessment Competition winners
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials recently announced the winners of its AI for Critical Mineral Assessment Competition, noting the effort increases and better secures critical mineral supply. In conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the competition's goal... Read More »
DHS launches new Small Business Innovation Research solicitation to address seven technology needs
For its latest Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications for research proposals on any of seven current technology needs, which will be competitively selected. Small business applicants can submit ideas... Read More »
Record number of firearms seized at airport security this year
The number of people who attempted to bring guns onto United States airplanes rose significantly this year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), despite having never been allowed in carry-on bags regardless of concealed weapons permits. This protection measure resulted... Read More »
Sen. Peters lauds reauthorization of Nonprofit Security Grant Program
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is touting the $360 million reauthorization of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which bolsters religious institution security initiatives. Peters supported a National Defense Authorization Act provision... Read More »
New York legislation targets violent crimes against police officers
New York state officials are touting a newly enacted measure that addresses violent crimes against police officers. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed S.772A/A.6318B to establish a Blue Alert system aiding the identification, location, and apprehension of individuals suspected of killing or... Read More »
Bill targets Latin America, Caribbean gun trafficking
U.S. Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Norma Torres (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently introduced legislation to address Latin America and Caribbean gun trafficking. The Americas Regional Monitoring... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman praise House passage of human trafficking legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are praising the House of Representatives' passage of their legislation to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act, which passed the Senate in April and now moves to President Joe Biden to be signed... Read More »
Lobbying Disclosure Improvement push to increase foreign influence scrutiny advanced by Senate
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.B. 4893), introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), passed through the Senate by unanimous vote last week, bolstering efforts to increase oversight of foreign lobbying to the House. “Foreign influence in our nation’s... Read More »
IAEA report pushes for proper emergency response training and national radiological emergency plans
A new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) looked into a 2013 radiological incident in Hueypoxtla, Mexico, in which a radioactive source was stolen, and used the incident as a sign that security and law enforcement needs to be trained en masse in radiological protection and... Read More »
Randomized trials of three Ebola vaccine strategies for adults, children dub regimens safe
In two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of three Ebola vaccine administration regimens for adults and children, the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination (PREVAC) recently published results concluding that all regimens were safe and effective. Vaccine candidates included Ad26.ZEBOV,... Read More »
NIH identifies new funding in support of Valley Fever vaccine research, development
Following up on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Notice of Special Interest from November that sought support for research into a Valley Fever vaccine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that additional funding avenues have been... Read More »
Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act heads to President Biden to become law
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R.7535) crossed its final legislative hurdle this week after a positive vote in the United States House, setting up its provisions for enhancing national cybersecurity to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill was introduced in... Read More »
Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act seeks increased scrutiny of foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land
Through the introduction of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act to the House this week, U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), along with nine other Republicans, seek to increase oversight of foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land. To do otherwise, they... Read More »
FBI releases 2021 hate crime statistics through Uniform Crime Reporting Program
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, has released 2021 hate crime statistics. The data was submitted by 11,834 law enforcement agencies providing information about offenses, victims, offenders, and hate crime locations. According to... Read More »
DHS, DOL outline additional H-2B Visa availability
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials noted the agencies are issuing a temporary final rulemaking 64,716 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas available. The action applies to temporary nonagricultural workers for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The... Read More »
National security updates en route as Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act passes Congress
Following its passage from the Senate last week, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act officially navigated both chambers of Congress, setting up changes to national security through new quantum computer defenses if signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill (H.R.7535) was... Read More »
New Senate report criticizes significant failures in initial federal COVID-19 response, pandemic preparedness
Following a two-year investigation by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a new report detailed significant failures in the federal government’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall preparedness. Released... Read More »