Threats
CDC expands monkeypox testing capacity with shipments to five commercial lab companies
Working through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began shipping monkeypox tests to five commercial lab companies this week. It aims to boost the nation’s monkeypox testing capacity at large, with assistance from Aegis... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Hoeven, Rosen applaud enactment of cybersecurity workforce legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently applauded the enactment of their legislation to recruit, develop and retain skilled cybersecurity professionals in the federal workforce. The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act became law in the wake... Read More »
Global Fund partners with SC Johnson to address malaria throughout Africa
A new partnership arranged between SC Johnson and the Global Fund this week will focus on resource development for malaria, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Together, the pair intend to push for social impact in some of the places malaria has proven most stubborn: Burundi, the... Read More »
OPCW Director-General meets U.S. Arms Control officials to discuss current international security, stockpile destruction
In an official visit to Washington, D.C., the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with various U.S. officials to address current international security and prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons. Under... Read More »
GAO issues cyber risk, insurance assessment recommendations
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued two recommendations to the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding cyber risks and cyber insurance assessments. Per the GAO, the agency conducted the study amid cyber threats to critical... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators call for more advanced artillery for Ukraine
This week, a bipartisan call from four senators urged the U.S. Department of Defense to dispatch more advanced artillery rocket systems and ammunition to Ukraine in support of its efforts to repel a Russian invasion. In a letter, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick... Read More »
International IED training at New York State preparedness training center deemed success
Over the course of a week, the latest iteration of the Raven’s Challenge, an improvised explosive devices (IED) training exercise for state, federal, and international partners in public safety and military, gathered more than 100 personnel in New York’s Oneida County this month. The State... Read More »
Battelle introduces PFAS contamination solution
Battelle officials have indicated the company has developed a proven solution to eliminate the source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated drinking water. The PFAS ANNIHILATOR, which destroys the chemicals by preventing them from entering drinking water systems, stemmed... Read More »
Republican House committee leadership promote more aggressive response to Russian nuclear threats
According to a letter from the Republican leads on three House committees, not enough is being done to deter Russia from utilizing nuclear weapons in its assault on Ukraine – and they urged President Joe Biden to be clearer and more combative in his approaches. At this point, said U.S. Reps.... Read More »
DHS releases enforcement strategy for blocking forced labor-made goods from China’s Xinjiang
Following up on the demands made by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week published its official strategy for barring importations from China’s Xinjiang region and cracking down on goods made from forced labor. China has come... Read More »
Measure seeks to address gun sales loophole
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced the reintroduction of the Default Proceed Sale Transparency Act, which seeks to close a loophole enabling some gun sales to be completed without Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check results. U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jimmy... Read More »
National Defense Authorization Act advances through Senate Armed Services Committee
The upcoming fiscal year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) overcame one of its major hurdles last week, advancing out of the Senate Armed Services Committee after consideration of 433 amendments and the adoption of 223. Committee markup and approval is the first big step to set... Read More »
HSI details $4.7M narcotics trafficking indictment
The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently led an investigation that led to the indictment of 20 Mexican nationals among 39 defendants for narcotics trafficking. The individuals had roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22... Read More »
DOJ, European Union unify ransomware attack combating efforts
Department of Justice and European Union officials are espousing the benefits of a recent two-day workshop in The Hague to share best practices and enhance collaboration in confronting ransomware attacks. “Only by working together with key law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in the EU... Read More »
Senate advances PACT Act of 2022 to president, promising greater focus on toxic exposure among veterans
A positive vote of 84-14 in the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 through its final legislative hurdle last week, advancing it to President Joe Biden to sign. The legislation introduced by U.S. Sens.... Read More »
Reps. LaHood, Panetta lead coalition urging strengthened U.S. supply chains
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (IL) and Jimmy Panetta (CA) led 18 colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden, encouraging him to improve supply chains, national preparedness, and vaccine delivery efficiency. They hope this will help the nation recover economically from the COVID-19... Read More »
FDA issues emergency use authorization for Roche’s cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo
Roche broke new ground with its cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo, which this week received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) to become the first PCR test capable of simultaneously detecting COVID-19 and quantitatively measuring viral load levels. “The test’s... Read More »
DARPA exploring new hybrid reef-mimicking structures research
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected three research teams to develop solutions for hybrid reef-mimicking structures research. DARPA launched the Reefense program to target coastal flooding, erosion, and storm damage threatening civilian and Department of Defense... Read More »
DHS S&T aiding indoor mapping capability development
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability. Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first... Read More »
Lawmakers seek comprehensive southern border policy review
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) recently joined 34 colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking a review of the department's southern border policy. The lawmakers noted that the follow-up letter to DHS Inspector General... Read More »
Sanofi-GSK next-generation COVID-19 booster vaccine makes strong protective showing against variants of concern
In two trials of a new Sanofi-GSK COVID-19 booster vaccine, strong immune responses were offered to previously vaccinated adults, and solid protection was offered against variants of concern, according to the company’s latest data. This booster is modeled on the Beta variant antigen,... Read More »
DHS S&T publishes Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Reference Architecture document
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel are espousing the benefits of the agency publishing the Resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Reference Architecture document. The document incorporates modern cybersecurity principles to... Read More »
Legislation introduced to close illegal alien loophole
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has joined a group of colleagues in introducing a measure that addresses an illegal alien policy loophole. Kennedy recently detailed the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, indicating the measure addresses a catch-and-release loophole, requiring the government to... Read More »
Resolution designates National Cybersecurity Education Month
U.S. Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) has introduced a resolution designating June as National Cybersecurity Education Month. “In today's hyper-connected world, cybersecurity is national security,” Garbarino, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Cybersecurity,... Read More »
BARDA orders extra 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s JYNNEOS smallpox, monkeypox vaccine
Responding to an increase in global cases of monkeypox, the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) purchased an additional 500,000 doses of the liquid-frozen JYNNEOS vaccine, a Bavarian Nordic A/S product. JYNNEOS holds the unique position of being the only U.S. Food... Read More »
Senators reveal limited, bipartisan gun control agreement
A bipartisan group of senators revealed a limited agreement for gun safety legislation on June 12, in an effort to reform American gun laws in the wake of a series of mass shootings across the country, While numerous Democrats supported the bill, 10 Republicans backed it as well, promising the... Read More »
Legislation introduced to strengthen efforts preventing military contractor price gouging
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced a bill to strengthen acquisition laws by preventing military contractor price gouging. “As Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I know how much we pay for parts to keep military equipment... Read More »
Bill seeks to address dangerous drone use
U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) recently introduced legislation that seeks to create comprehensive federal restrictions to prohibit the most dangerous drone uses. The Drone Act would, among other provisions, prohibit attaching... Read More »
Senate committee advances FENTANYL Results Act to reduce synthetic drug trafficking
As Congress contemplates the best approach to tackling the problem of overdose deaths, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced last week the Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting (FENTANYL) Results Act (S.B. 1160). The FENTANYL Results Act, the... Read More »
Lockheed Martin details Army radar system delivery
Aerospace company Lockheed Martin recently delivered the first five Sentinel A4 air and missile defense radars to the Army. The Sentinel A4 has been on an accelerated schedule since the project was awarded in September 2019. Production of the next five radar systems is presently underway, with... Read More »
Conference Committee pressed to adopt Safeguarding American Innovation Act in light of massive NIH grant recipient failures to disclose foreign ties
After an Inspector General report found that more than two-thirds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant recipients failed to disclose foreign ties, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) urged legislative action this week to punish those who fail to reveal foreign financing. “The HHS OIG (Health... Read More »
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 »