Threats
Moderna’s Omicron-variant booster delivers greater protection against COVID-19 threats
Moderna, Inc. revealed clinical data on its Omicron-containing bivalent COVID booster candidate, mRNA-1273.214, this week, showing that one-month post-administration, a 50 µg dose of the booster provided a superior neutralizing antibody response compared to its predecessor... Read More »
Legislation seeks to redirect COVID funds for school safety effort
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) has introduced legislation that seeks to clarify state flexibility to apply unused state and local COVID-19 Fiscal Recovery Funds school security measures. The Securing Our Schools Act (H.R. 7979) would provide schools with additional needed... Read More »
Hearing explores ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency cybercrimes
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently conducted a hearing addressing the uptick in ransomware attacks and the use of cryptocurrencies as ransom payments in these attacks. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) convened the... Read More »
FDA Advisory Committee recommends Novavax COVID-19 vaccine gain Emergency Use Authorization for adults
After considering data from a Phase 3 clinical trial of approximately 30,000 participants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted to recommend the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine gain Emergency Use Authorization... Read More »
NIST challenge targets advancement in incident command dashboard tech
The U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced plans to launch a competition seeking to advance incident command dashboard technologies aiding emergency response. The Command Dashboard Integrating Next-Gen or CommanDING, Tech Challenge would unite... Read More »
DHS releases terrorism threat summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has detailed a summary of terrorism threats, as well as responses to threats and resources to aid in bolstering safety. Per DHS, individuals in online forums routinely promoting domestic violent extremist and conspiracy theory-related content have... Read More »
CISA launches More Than a Password campaign to advocate increased use of multi-factor authentication
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently launched a social media campaign the agency indicated seeks to bolster increased adoption of multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent cyber intrusions. The More Than a Password campaign kicked off at the 2022 RSA... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators seek additional sanctions against Putin enablers
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging the Biden administration to increase sanctions on Vladimir Putin enablers amid Russia's war with Ukraine. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice... Read More »
Parents of victims, survivor from recent Uvalde, Buffalo mass shootings to testify before House Oversight Committee
As Congress once again questions the nature of the gun violence epidemic in the United States following several mass shootings events, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform announced this week that it will hold a hearing on gun violence with testimony from a survivor, police, educators, and... Read More »
WHO highlight need for expedited studies, greater collaboration in addressing monkeypox outbreaks
Following a World Health Organization (WHO) global research consultation, more than 500 experts emphasized that expedited studies, strengthened collaboration from researchers in endemic countries, public health responses, and new clinical studies are needed to address monkeypox. Monkeypox has... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators urges more resources, staff for U.S.-Canada border security
A bipartisan group of senators called on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Committee this week to back U.S. Customers and Border Protection (CBP) with resources for proper staff and security at the U.S.-Canada border. Led by U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Hoeven (R-ND), the... Read More »
FLETC spearheads South Florida active shooter training exercise
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) instructors personnel joined the Homestead (FL) Police Department in providing Active Shooter Threat Training Program (ASTTP) instruction to officers in South Florida. The exercise sought to equip law enforcement personnel with the knowledge and... Read More »
NTI gathers more than 40 multi-disciplinary scientists to address global effects of nuclear weapons
Last week, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) gathered more than 40 scientists and researchers from various fields and nations for a hybrid virtual-and-physical conference on the potential cascading effects of a nuclear conflict. Food security, supply chain resilience, and disaster management... Read More »
House Border Security Technology Caucus holds first briefing
The first briefing of the Bipartisan Border Security Technology Caucus took place this week, in conjunction with geospatial analytics company Orbital Insight, to address how best to aid law enforcement agencies in monitoring and collecting data on cross-border migration. A House-focused... Read More »
O’Hare International CBP officers arrested 124 criminals with outstanding warrants since October
Since Oct. 1, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) have arrested 124 people with outstanding warrants. According to the law enforcement agency, 105 were arrested between October and April 30, 2022, as travelers attempted to enter... Read More »
DHS S&T experts man technical assistance hotline and preparedness efforts to protect against chemical hazards from hurricanes
As hurricane season begins, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is reminding the public of steps it takes to guarantee chemical security and maintain public health and safety. “As this hurricane season kicks off, we know that the National... Read More »
FBI releases National Use-of-Force statistics
FBI statistics for 2021 showed that 8,226 law enforcement agencies submitted use-of-force data to the National Use-of-Force Data Collection, managed by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The agencies represent over 60 percent of federal, state, local, tribal, and... Read More »
Air Force details upcoming BRAVO Hackathon initiative
Air Force officials recently announced that applications are now open for the next BRAVO Hackathon initiative, an innovation and software development event that seeks to build emergent weapons system capabilities. BRAVO 1 Canary Release will kick off July 18-22, 2022, at Joint Base... Read More »
Federal Firefighter Fairness Act advances out of Senate committee
An effort to net federal firefighters financial support for illnesses and diseases acquired from their duties – the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act – was advanced by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) this week. “Every day across the country,... Read More »
DHS advances southern border barrier projects
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently authorized Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to advance a series of southern border barrier projects. DHS Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas recently detailed projects in the San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, El Paso, and Rio... Read More »
Raytheon Missiles & Defense wins $624M contract to stock U.S. Army with Stinger missiles
Under a $624 million contract awarded to Raytheon Missiles & Defense – a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies – last week, the defense contractor will be tasked with supplying the U.S. Army with 1,300 Stinger missiles. Stingers are lightweight, self-contained missile systems meant for air... Read More »
Bipartisan Senate legislation seeks to bar data brokers from selling military personnel lists to U.S. adversaries
New legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) last week sought limits on the sale of private data by banning data brokers from selling military personnel lists to U.S.-dubbed adversarial nations. Citing national security, the... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Hassan introduce Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit Stipend Act to fund foreign law enforcement teams
With the introduction of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) Stipend Act last week, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) seek to authorize existing TCIUs into law and get foreign law enforcement teams working with American agencies paid. TCIUs are teams... Read More »
Bills target wildfire response, recovery
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced two bills seeking to support efforts in California and nationwide to extinguish fires faster. The Fire Suppression Improvement Act would also protect communities from post-fire flooding and expand Federal Emergency Management... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic secures smallpox vaccine supply contract to address monkeypox outbreak
Amid some nervousness over a monkeypox outbreak this year, Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that it has a new supply contract for its smallpox vaccine meant to help those at risk of monkeypox in the short or medium term. The country to benefit from that contract remains unidentified at this time.... Read More »
Bill targets federal cybersecurity information sharing
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently praised the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) for advancing the Intragovernmental Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. The bill seeks to ensure cybersecurity... Read More »
Sen. Peters releases ransomware report detailing rising attacks, use of cryptocurrencies for ransom payments
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, concluded an investigation this week into cryptocurrencies’ role in cybercriminal activities with a new ransomware report. In “Use of Cryptocurrency in Ransomware Attacks, Available... Read More »
DOJ details charges against Iraqi national involved in murder plot against former President
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has detailed charges against an Iraqi citizen living in Columbus, Ohio, whom the agency alleged was involved in plans to murder former President George W. Bush. Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab, 52, was arrested by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force agents and charged... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Gillibrand, and Rounds seek to fund U.S.-Israel missile defense programs
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) forwarded correspondence to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Monday, advocating for the total funding of U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs. The funding allocation would apply to the... Read More »
Air Force awards KBR $44M contract for systems, software protection
Science, technology, and engineering for KBR has secured a $44 million Air Force task order to protect systems and software from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. "We are excited to be a part of this significant project to protect the Air Force's... Read More »
FBI: Active shooter incidents in United States rose more than 50 percent last year
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced last week that 61 active shooter incidents were reported last year, representing a 52.5 percent increase from 2020 reports. Those numbers also led to 103 deaths and 140 injuries, not including the shooters. This gave 2021 a dubious distinction... Read More »
Rep. Garbarino introduces legislation to help DHS retain, recruit officers to counter transnational crimes
Worried about personnel shortages at the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), new House legislation would authorize new incentivization to officers for retention and recruitment... Read More »
House committee advances PREVENT Act
U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) recently applauded the House Committee on Homeland Security for advancing the PREVENT Act, legislation he introduced to protect drug handling Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel. “As the crisis at the southern border continues to spiral out of control, so... Read More »
DHS seeking 2022 Biometric Technology Rally submissions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking 2022 Biometric Technology Rally submissions. DHS S&T indicated the agency is requesting industry personnel to submit applications to participate in the 2022 Rally slated for the Maryland Test... Read More »