Threats
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 »
Sen. Padilla applauds passage of FIRE Act
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently touted the passage of his legislation, the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, which now heads to the president's desk for signature. The measure was co-sponsored by six Senate colleagues and is designed to strengthen Federal Emergency... Read More »
Bicameral legislators advocate global moratorium on anti-satellite missile tests
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and seven colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the Biden administration's efforts to establish a global anti-satellite missile tests moratorium. “Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space... Read More »
S&T, CISA co-develop new test environments for transportation security technologies
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are testing out new technologies and tools to protect transportation infrastructure both online and off. Like most things today, that... Read More »
Lawmakers request Twitter insight regarding PRC social media influence
U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, recently forwarded correspondence to Twitter CEO Elon Musk regarding insight into People’s Republic of China (PRC) social media influence. The... Read More »
CEPI extends VBI Vaccines partnership for development of multivalent coronavirus vaccine
A partnership between VBI Vaccines Inc. and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) expanded this week with a new development agreement seeking the development of multivalent coronavirus shots for use against multiple coronavirus threats. Based on VBI’s proprietary enveloped... Read More »
DHS to launch series of challenges in search of new remote identity validation technologies to fight fraud
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a series of technology challenges for 2023 to spur commercial identity validation technologies to counter identity fraud when users apply for various services. Potentially, this could help reduce... Read More »
DHS pushes back REAL ID full enforcement deadline another two years
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID requirements looks to be delayed again after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intention this week to push it back to May 7, 2025, to give states more time to meet requirements. “DHS continues to work closely with... Read More »
New law requires agencies consider disaster resilience for investments in federal property, assets
With President Joe Biden’s signature, the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act became law this week, launching a bipartisan measure that requires federal agencies to factor in disaster resilience for investments in and management of federal property and assets. Extreme weather has picked up pace... Read More »
DHS details Haiti Temporary Protected Status extension
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have outlined the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, from Feb. 4, 2023, through Aug. 3, 2024. DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas noted the action stems from extraordinary and temporary conditions... Read More »
CSRB to conduct second Lapsus$ review
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) is slated to conduct a second review of cybersecurity attacks connected to the global extortion-focused hacker group Lapsus$. “The Cyber Safety Review Board has quickly established itself as an innovative and enduring... Read More »
CBP launches test phase of global business identifier to weigh improvements to government assessments of trade
Moving to increase supply chain visibility and more swiftly identify high-risk shipments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the beginnings of a pilot program known as the Global Business Identifier (GBI) last week. Undertaken with 13 partner government agencies, the concept behind GBI... Read More »
PFAS Act to be signed into law, enshrining new protections for firefighters and emergency responders
With its passage in the House last week, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act cleared its final legislative hurdle after having passed the Senate last summer. If President Joe Biden signs the bills as expected, it will require federal agencies to create best practices,... Read More »
Legislation seeks to support CBP personnel behavioral health
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, recently introduced the CBP Behavioral Health Act, which seeks to provide behavioral health support to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel working to secure the Southwest... Read More »
CDC awards $3.2B to nationwide public health workforce, infrastructure improvement efforts
In a move that will affect every jurisdiction in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that $3.2 billion will be issued to state, local, and territorial jurisdictions to strengthen their public health workforce and its infrastructure. The... Read More »
Lockheed Martin outlines Army civilian cyber personnel training
Security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin is slated to support cyber readiness and training for up to 17,000 Army civilian cyber personnel via an Other Transaction Agreement. Lockheed Martin's Mission Readiness & Reporting (MR2) cyber management solution enables the Army to identify,... Read More »
Boeing High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability meets Navy operational status requirements
Boeing, an aerospace and defense company, recently announced that its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) satisfies all Navy requirements for initial operational capability status. “The initial operational capability milestone marks the readiness of HAAWC for fleet... Read More »
CBP reports one-week, $14.4M narcotics seizures at Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry
Over the last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials reported that three methamphetamine and cocaine seizures at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry yielded narcotics with a street value of more than $14.4 million. These events occurred on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17,... Read More »
NIAID awards more than $12M for development of antiviral therapeutics
As part of its Antiviral Program for Pandemics (APP), meant to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing of antivirals, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently awarded more than $12 million to three institutions for new therapies. These new... Read More »
TSA initiates CAT-2 resource at Denver International Airport
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are espousing the benefits of the agency implementing the next generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) at Denver International Airport. The CAT-2 units used to verify the identity of travelers possess the same capabilities... Read More »
SEPTA selects ZeroEyes AI-based gun detection system for pilot program on train platforms
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced last week that ZeroEyes, a company with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based gun detection video analytics platform, will run a pilot program designed to reduce violence on train platforms. Currently, ZeroEyes’ automated... Read More »
Hearing examines homeland security threats
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSHAC) personnel, spearheaded by Chairman Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), noted they recently convened a hearing to explore expanding homeland security threats. “More than 20 years ago, the September 11th terrorist attacks changed our nation... Read More »
CBP warns of counterfeit products during holiday shopping season as seizures of fake products reach record levels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cautioned consumers heading into the holiday shopping season to be on the lookout for counterfeit products in the wake of the agency’s largest seizure of fake products to date. Most pirated items include apparel, accessories, watches, jewelry, and... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Scott applaud advancement of Disaster Resiliency Planning Act
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) are commending the House of Representatives' passage of the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act, which now moves to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. The measure, which garnered Senate approval in June, requires federal agencies to... Read More »
New report shows DHS, FBI failed to track and report threats from domestic terrorists
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, this week released the results of an investigation into the rise of domestic terrorism and federal actions against it – and alleged that it has come up short. Specifically, he pointed to... Read More »