Threats
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 »
HHS providing $11M to Michigan manufacturer for domestic monkeypox vaccine production
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) of Grand Rapids, Mich., secured its place as the first face of domestic manufacturing for the JYNNEOS smallpox and monkeypox vaccine this week, thanks to an award of approximately $11 million in support from the United States Department of Health and Human... Read More »
Sen. Ernst advocates for prevention of southern border terrorist flow
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging DHS action regarding reported increased southern border terrorist apprehensions. “Recent reports have shown an increase of terrorist apprehensions in recent... Read More »
Raytheon Missiles & Defense wins $182M U.S. Army contract to supply mid-range air defense to Ukraine
As the war between Ukraine and Russia enters into its sixth month, the U.S. Army is still finding new ways to help its eastern European ally, and as of last week, that support took the form of a $182 million contract with Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The company, formed through a combination of... Read More »
Caucus targets civilian harm prevention, response efforts
U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) recently formed a congressional caucus that seeks to prevent, reduce and offer a response to civilian harm resulting from U.S. and partners’ operations. The action stems from the... Read More »
N95 supply no longer in shortage, FDA reports
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially removed N95 respirators from its list of medical device shortages, deeming the personal protective equipment (PPE) in sufficient supply now after supply chain issues that roiled much of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the agency will continue... Read More »
Grand jury indicts MS-13 gang members, reports DOJ
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas indicted 10 alleged MS-13 gang members with a series of crimes. The alleged crimes, according to the Department of Justice, include racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, related... Read More »Lawmakers say ease of access to radiological material requires immediate action by NRC
Leaders from the House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security joined forces in a letter this week to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), pressing for urgent action to close vulnerabilities in the oversight of radiological material purchases. Spurring the letter was a covert... Read More »Sens. Rubio, Hagerty express concerns regarding DHS, State Department determination allowing “terrorist-linked” individuals to enter U.S.
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have joined eight colleagues in expressing concerns regarding a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State determination that "terrorist-linked" individuals are no longer barred from entering the United States. The... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense receives $5.2M Open Philanthropy grant for bio-preparation work
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense announced Tuesday that it had received a $5.2 million grant from Open Philanthropy to strengthen efforts to improve preparation for biological incidents, ranging from pandemics and zoonotic diseases to biological terrorism and warfare. The private... Read More »
Moderna finishes FDA application for emergency use authorization of Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster vaccine
Moderna, Inc. announced this week that it has finished its submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its BA.4/BA.5 Omicron-focused bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine. The candidate, or mRNA-1273.222, would be formulated as a... Read More »
DHS S&T funds earmarked for AI software development
Volt Athletics, Inc., based in Seattle, Wash., has secured a $199,730 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) award to develop its Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system. “DHS recognizes that wellness is a complex issue and is engaging the private... Read More »
BARDA exercises contract option for additional smallpox treatments in early 2023
Amid a monkeypox outbreak that continues to grow internationally, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) exercised an option on an existing contract this week to acquire additional intravenous (IV) doses of the TPOXX smallpox treatment. TPOXX is a U.S. Food and Drug... Read More »
Nonprofit Security Grant Program allocate funds for two faith-based security initiatives
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently announced funding for their respective states to aid faith-based and other nonprofit organizations in securing their facilities against terrorist attacks and acts of hate. Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection appoints Roque Caza port director for Calexico
The Calexico Port of Entry gained a new port director this week, with the United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) appointment of Roque Caza, previously the director of the CBP Counter Network Division (CND). Calexico is the third busiest of six land border crossings under the... Read More »
Whistleblowers prompt questions over COVID-19 vaccine mislabeling, unauthorized manufacturing
In a letter to leadership at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) revealed nine whistleblowers had disclosed concerns of mislabeling and unauthorized manufacturing of... Read More »
Rep. Maloney introduces legislation seeking gun manufacturer accountability
U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) recently introduced two pieces of legislation to combat gun violence by establishing gun manufacturer accountability. The Firearm Industry Fairness Act would tax firearm manufacturers producing semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines at a rate of 20... Read More »
DHS, national law enforcement organizations host two-day 2022 Intelligence Summit
At the first summit of its kind in 15 years, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and various national law enforcement organizations gathered in Alexandria, Va., Aug. 17-18, 2022, to network and improve information sharing on national and public security. “In the 20 years since 9/11,... Read More »
Couple facing CBP trusted traveler status revocation after failing to declare nearly $100,000 in designer goods
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said a Maryland couple faces CBP trusted traveler status revocation after failing to declare nearly $100,000 in designer brand consumer goods purchased overseas. Both individuals were Global Entry trusted traveler members. Global Entry is the... Read More »
HHS-aided agreement between Bavarian Nordic and Michigan-based GRAM to create first fill and finish line for monkeypox vaccine
Bavarian Nordic reached an agreement last week with pharmaceutical contract manufacturer Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM), making arrangements backed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create the first U.S. fill and finish line for the JYNNEOS vaccine. JYNNEOS... Read More »