Threats
USDOT to award $32.4M in grants for hazardous materials safety efforts among states, territories and Tribes
To improve local efforts to respond to hazardous materials incidents, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week that it will award $32.4 million in grants to states, territories, and Tribes. A total of 81 grants will be split between six different hazardous... Read More »
Bipartisan senators urge Biden to take executive action to create additional outbound investment screen
While promoting their National Critical Capabilities Defense Act (S. 1854 and H.R. 6323), a bipartisan group of U.S. senators wrote to President Joe Biden this week, urging him to take an immediate, interim executive action on outbound investments to foreign adversaries. This action, they... Read More »
Simplexa COVID-19 Direct becomes second COVID diagnostic test cleared by FDA
After being backed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under public-private partnerships, the office recently announced that Simplexa COVID-19 Direct became the second standalone COVID-19 diagnostic cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In so doing,... Read More »
TSA details rising security checkpoint gun intercepts
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the agency is experiencing a nationwide trend regarding guns intercepted at airport security checkpoints. “Each gun presents a danger," TSA spokesperson Sari Koshetz said. "Any incident could have tragic results. This ominous trend continues... Read More »
BADGES legislation pursues new Tribal resources to solve growing crisis of missing, murdered women
With an underreported wave of missing and murdered indigenous women continuing throughout America, Congress is starting to take notice: last week, Congressional lawmakers introduced the bicameral BADGES for Native Communities Act to acquire more resources for Tribal communities. “The federal... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman introduce Securing Open Source Software Act
In response to the potential exploitation of vulnerabilities in open source software, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) last week introduced the Securing Open Source Software Act to evaluate and direct how open source code could be used by the federal government. “Open... Read More »
MINES Act seeks increased scrutiny of Chinese, Russian mineral acquisition worldwide
In his introduction of the Monitoring and Investigating Nations Exploiting States (MINES) Act (H.R. 8911) this week, U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) emphasized a need to maintain and monitor access to minerals critical to the national economy or security, no matter their origin. Earlier this year,... Read More »
Hurricane Fiona leads to Public Health Emergency in Puerto Rico
After the Category 1 Hurricane Fiona slammed Puerto Rico, the devastation led to President Joe Biden declaring a disaster across the island this week, followed shortly by a Public Health Emergency from Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra due to flooding. Even as Federal Emergency... Read More »
Bill seeks to clarify, strengthen violent crime laws
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill that seeks to clarify and strengthen violent crime laws involving homicide, bank robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and other offenses. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) recently joined U.S. Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Scott Fitzgerald... Read More »
Rep. Higgins advocates elimination of U.S.-Canada border restrictions
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins is calling on the United States to end COVID-related restrictions at the U.S. border with Canada. Higgins, co-chair of the Canada-US Interparliamentary Group and the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Redacted Senate Intelligence Committee report highlights China, Russia and more as foreign intelligence threats
A new Senate Intelligence Committee report built on two years of research identified numerous threats to American security and called for reforms. Redacted and released by Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), the bipartisan report concluded, among other things, that... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Grassley target lobbyists, foreign influence on U.S. policy in latest legislation
Worried about undisclosed foreign influence on United States policy, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act this week to crack down on lobbyist and political party exploitation of a Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA)... Read More »
Air Force outlines B-21 Raider aircraft reveal
The U.S. Air Force announced plans to reveal the B-21 Raider in December during an unveiling ceremony hosted and sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation. The ceremony at Northrop Grumman's production facilities in Palmdale, Calif., in the first week of December, will highlight the stealth... Read More »
TSA, American Association of Airport Executives offer virtual training course on insider threats
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) recently developed and released a new virtual insider threat training course for badged employees at airports nationwide. The training is meant to help these aviation workers recognize and... Read More »
Legislation targets increased support for local fire departments
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which seeks to bolster nationwide federal support for local fire departments. Specifically, the legislation reauthorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs local fire... Read More »
Homeland Security funds eye targeted violence, terrorism prevention
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allocated 43 grants totaling $20 million to address targeted violence and terrorism prevention. The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) seeks to aid in preventing domestic violent extremism... Read More »
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 »