Threats
Biden administration funnels $1B into state and local cybersecurity grant program
Drawing from funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will put up $1 billion for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program -- a first of its kind effort emphasized by the Biden administration. Funding will be divided over... Read More »
Pekoske receives second TSA Administrator confirmation
The Senate has confirmed David Pekoske for a second term as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, a role in which he will continue federal responsibility for domestic surface transportation security. President Joe Biden nominated Pekoske for a second term in May 2022,... Read More »
New Senate effort focuses on reauthorizing Project Safe Neighborhoods grant program
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program could gain new life if an effort newly introduced to the Senate gains traction. Under S. 4859, reauthorization would be granted to legislation last passed in 2018 and for other purposes. A nationwide law enforcement program, the Project Safe... Read More »
Justice Department initiates nationwide effort to combat acts of hate
U.S. Department of Justice officials are espousing the benefits of a new nationwide initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. The United Against Hate program is convening local forums connecting community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to expand community understanding and... Read More »
Sens. Lankford, Inhofe introduce SOIL Act to increase oversight of agricultural land
In response to recent purchases by foreign entities that spooked locals in Oklahoma, U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill this week to increase oversight and transparency of purchases of U.S. agricultural land. The Security and Oversight of International... Read More »
Bill offers Russian Federation terrorism sponsor designation
U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act, which designates the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). “Putin has crossed every line of civilized norms during the war in Ukraine and years... Read More »
Rep. Harshbarger introduces Protecting Our Homeland from Chinese Espionage Act in direct rebuke of China
While tensions between the United States and China have grown over the years, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced the Protecting Our Homeland from Chinese Espionage Act this week. As proposed, the bill would require companies bidding for any Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Bill targets bolstered wildfire protections
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) recently introduced the Community Wildfire Protection Act to enable greater wildfire protections. “Climate change is putting more and more communities in the path of deadly wildfires,” Feinstein said. “Unfortunately, a more than... Read More »
Sen. Murphy requests details on DOJ, ATF implementation of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provisions
Following up on the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act back in June, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) this week wrote the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requesting updates on how the law had been implemented. That legislation had... Read More »
DHS, DOJ detail human smuggling operation disruption, dismantling
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently detailed the disruption and dismantling of a human smuggling operation in Texas and across the southern United States. Authorities indicated the operation in conjunction with Joint Task Force Alpha... Read More »
Boeing finishes construction, unveils Phantom Works Advanced Composite Fabrication Center
Construction work concluded on Boeing’s new Advanced Works Composite Fabrication Center in Arizona, and with that, the company revealed the 155,000-square-foot facility as the first of several new factories to come under the guidance of its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business unit. The... Read More »
DHS S&T releases interactive training tool for explosive detection canine teams
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently initiated a new interactive training tool for handlers and trainers of explosive detection canines. The effort would upgrade Person-Borne Explosives Detection (PBED) capabilities. PBED canines must... Read More »
KBR secures $38M contract through Defense Logistics Agency
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has awarded science, technology and engineering solutions firm KBR a $38 million contract supporting global Automated Fuel Handling Equipment (AFHE) sites. The AFHE system is described by the DLA as an Industrial Control System with real-time data... Read More »
CISA seeking cyber incident reporting requirements feedback
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is soliciting public input regarding new cyber incident reporting requirements. Authorities indicated a Request for Information (RFI) would provide the public with 60 days to provide written submissions detailing feedback on the Cyber... Read More »
Lockheed Martin, AT&T tout military helicopter data transfer performance
Aerospace company Lockheed Martin and AT&T officials are espousing the benefits of a 5G test that successfully transferred UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter health and usage data. The test recently conducted at Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Conn., demonstrated that wireless... Read More »
NIAID begins Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate TPOXX monkeypox antiviral
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group began enrolling more than 500 adults and children for a Phase 3 clinical trial of the antiviral tecovirimat (TPOXX) for use against monkeypox, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced this week. “Monkeypox can be an extremely... Read More »
Financial intermediary fund for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response launches with WHO, World Bank support
Looking to get ahead of future health concerns, a new financial intermediary fund (FIF) was officially launched last week by the FIF Governing Board, which was recently created with support from G20 members and other nations, along with a positive vote from the World Bank Board of... Read More »
Rep. Thompson addresses gun violence prevention, ghost gun impact
House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) this week joined Santa Rosa, California, officials in advocating gun violence prevention efforts while also highlighting ghost gun impacts. Thompson and Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan, Santa Rosa Councilmember Natalie... Read More »
Sen. Portman expresses concerns regarding Afghan evacuee vetting
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) expressed concerns this week after a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report detailed insufficient vetting procedures for Afghan evacuees arriving domestically. The lawmaker noted the DHS OIG report followed a Department of... Read More »
Reps. Thompson, Calvert advocate wildfire fighting support, resources
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA) have joined 25 congressional colleagues in advocating additional support for combating wildfires and ensuring communities have resources to suppress wildfires. Thompson and Calvert recently spearheaded the effort to forward correspondence... Read More »
AmerisourceBergen wins nearly $20M HHS contract to improve deliveries of monkeypox vaccines, treatments
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded AmerisourceBergen a $19.8 million contract to improve the delivery of monkeypox vaccines and treatments. AmerisourceBergen was specifically tasked with expanding distribution capacity and weekly shipments. The company will... Read More »
DHS recommends assessments, deployment of protective equipment or shelters to shield National Public Warning System
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a report this week entitled Electromagnetic Pulse Shielding Mitigations, which laid out a series of recommendations to best protect the National Public Warning System from the threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). EMPs can be man-made for... Read More »
Rep. Johnson introduces legislation addressing TikTok domestic data, device access
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced this week legislation that seeks to prohibit TikTok from accessing domestic citizens’ user data from within China and block TikTok installation on government devices. The Block the Tok Act also directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to initiate an... Read More »
CBP initiates Virtual Career Expo
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are espousing the benefits of the Fall 2022 Virtual Career Expo, which will help the agency recruit law enforcement professionals. The Sept. 13 event stems from the CBP seeking entry-level and experienced law enforcement personnel interested in a... Read More »
Republican senators deride sanctuary policies, U.S. Marshals Service immigration proposal
In a letter to the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) last week, a dozen Republican senators critiqued an alleged policy proposal that conservative media said would cause illegal immigrants to be released into the United States before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could arrest... Read More »
ECS secures $53M agreement supporting Global Air Transportation Execution System
Technology, science, and digital transformation solutions company ECS has been awarded a $53 million contract supporting the USTRANSCOM Global Air Transportation Execution System (GATES). ESC, a subsidiary of IT and professional services firm ASGN Incorporated, is slated to provide software... Read More »
CBP details cocaine seizures at Laredo Port of Entry
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at Laredo Port of Entry recently detailed a series of cocaine seizures. “Within a four-day span, our frontline CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized a total of three significant loads of cocaine in the cargo... Read More »
Pennsylvania to invest $185M into new law enforcement, community safety programs
An announcement from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf last week revealed that $185 million in state funding would go toward two new programs to improve community safety, both through support for local law enforcement and county district attorneys’ offices. The governor’s final capstone budget... Read More »
FEMA, Ad Council focus on disaster preparedness in Black communities with newest PSAs
Create a lasting legacy – that is the message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ad Council’s latest accessibility and preparedness PSA campaign, which will focus on the Black and African American communities nationwide. “Black and African American communities... Read More »
House lawmakers seek improved intelligence analysis of foreign military will to fight
A year on, the United States is still learning lessons from its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) this week introduced the Will to Fight Act to guarantee foreign national resolve is on the list for study. “As an Army Ranger in Iraq and... Read More »
BARDA, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings jointly developing self-amplifying mRNA-based flu vaccine
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced a new partnership with Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. this week, which seeks to create a self-amplifying messenger RNA (samRNA) vaccine for use against pandemic influenza. This, the partners believe, would allow... Read More »
FEMA launches $50M loan fund to reduce natural hazard, climate change vulnerabilities at state, local levels
Under the direction of the Biden administration and drawing on funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will create a $50 million Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program to bolster state and local government efforts to fight natural... Read More »
Reps. Sarbanes, Pappas join colleagues in expressing concerns with Turkey’s missile defense systems, F-16
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, indicating concerns about Turkey reportedly considering acquiring Russian S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. Reps. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) joined 18 colleagues in also restating... Read More »
BARDA seeks opinions on new partnership model for medical countermeasures
Turning to the public, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) released a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) this week to gather input on an idea for a new Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle meant to be the guiding model for health security acquisitions. Its development could... Read More »