Threats
DHS completes jamming exercise to strengthen first responder communications
During the last week in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) hosted the JamX 22 exercise to further resilience to signal jamming threats for federal and first responders.... Read More »Bill targets Russian war crimes documentation effort
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced legislation that seeks to ensure America is undertaking coordinated efforts to collect and maintain war crimes evidence during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cornyn, the sponsor of the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability... Read More »BARDA announces new partnerships to develop diagnostics for respiratory RNA virus
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced Tuesday it had partnered with a number of industry and academic organizations to advance next-gen diagnostics to detect respiratory viruses in a single test.... Read More »
Resolution targets illicit trade, money laundering
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a resolution advocating Congress address global criminal organizations, illicit trade, and trade-based money laundering (TBML) actions. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey... Read More »
Northrop Grumman details IVEWS technology progression
The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to prepare the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for developmental testing and hardware qualification. IVEWS utilizes ultra-wideband architecture to provide instantaneous bandwidth needed to defeat... Read More »
Sen. Tester introduces legislation seeking to strengthen U.S. borders
Two bills introduced by U.S. Sen. John Tester (R-MT) would further strengthen and secure the U.S. borders to Canada and Mexico, the senator’s office said Monday. Tester introduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which will require U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to hire... Read More »
Bill targets enhanced anti-trafficking efforts
U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined nine colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking maritime domain awareness clarity. The legislators are requesting that DHS adopt a common operating platform, which they... Read More »
CBP Trusted Traveler Programs reach milestone, exceeding 10 million members in March
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) initiative exceeded 10 million total members during March. TTP supports the agency's mission to secure domestic borders while facilitating lawful travel and trade - enabling pre-approved,... Read More »
Homeland Security Department issues RFI for vehicle extrication tools
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) recently issued a vehicle extrication tools request for information (RFI). The agency is seeking commercially available vehicle extrication tools... Read More »
BARDA and Lumen Bioscience developing intranasal antibody treatment for COVID-19
As part of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) Beyond the Needle program, Lumen Bioscience is working to create a new antibody cocktail for treatment of SARS-CoV-2, delivered intranasally. Beyond the Needle, managed by the Division of Research Innovation and... Read More »Positive data reported for Valneva, Pfizer’s Lyme disease vaccine candidate for children
A Lyme disease vaccine candidate for adults and children at least 5 years old produced strong immunogenicity, safety and overall positive results this week in a Phase 2 trial conducted by its developers, Valneva SE and Pfizer Inc. This marked the first clinical study where VLA15, as the... Read More »
Bill seeks to block Biden from deploying veteran resources on southern border
A group of Republican lawmakers have introduced a measure that would prohibit the Biden administration from deploying veterans' resources as a means of managing the southern border. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) joined Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jim Inhofe... Read More »
U.S. Secret Service hosts Cyber Incident Response Simulation
Ransomware was the focus of a Cyber Incident Response Simulation hosted by the United States Secret Service this week, which gathered together fellow government agencies, executive business leaders and law enforcement to address cyberattacks and how to respond. “Our cyber incident response... Read More »
NTI hosts more than 40 nuclear experts at fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum
The nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) drew together dozens of nuclear experts from 15 countries and international organizations earlier this month for its fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum, dedicated to addressing ransomware, supply chain issues, workforce maintenance, and effective security.... Read More »
Biden administration releases first national action plan to counter malicious drone activity
The rapid introduction and expansion of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, into daily life has created a host of additional safety and privacy concerns as well, and this week those concerns prompted the Biden administration to introduce the first Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems... Read More »
WHO recommends Paxlovid as treatment for high risk COVID-19 patients, but warns of roadblocks
While adding Paxlovid – nirmatrelvir and ritonavir – to its list of recommended treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at risk of hospital admission, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that lack of price transparency at Pfizer Inc. and testing demands before administration... Read More »
Congress members call for Russia to be designated state sponsor of terrorism
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. State Department to determine whether or not Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the... Read More »
Hackers, cybersecurity researchers identify vulnerabilities at DHS as part of Hack DHS program
Encouraged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 450 vetted security researchers and ethical hackers rooted through select external DHS systems and turned up 122 vulnerabilities, earning a cash prize for their efforts. The first phase of the Hack DHS buck hunting program... Read More »
FEMA to assess PA, MD radiological emergency preparedness
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is slated to evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise, focusing on Pennsylvania and Maryland responses. The assessment specifically involved communities around the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The effort calls for FEMA... Read More »
National Drug Control Strategy forwarded to Congress
President Joe Biden has forwarded to Congress his administration's first National Drug Control Strategy, which is an initiative focused on a whole-of-government approach to address the overdose epidemic. “This Strategy goes after two big drivers of the opioid epidemic: untreated addiction and... Read More »
ASPR celebrates construction of new research and development facility for production of prefilled injectors
The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) celebrated the completion of the initial design and construction last week for a new ApiJect Technology Development Center that promises greater manufacturing capacity for prefilled injectors used to administer vaccines... Read More »
Bechtel details VX nerve agent elimination
Engineering, construction, and project management firm Bechtel recently detailed the elimination of the last U.S. chemical weapon containing VX nerve agent. The action was executed at the Bechtel-led Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) near Richmond, Kentucky, marking... Read More »
Rep. Katko commends enactment of Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the enactment of his Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) expands support for Shadow Wolves officers performing critical duties and bolsters the southern border. The Shadow Wolves, part of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, are a Native American tactical... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic begins phase 3 clinical trial of MVA-BN RSV vaccine for older adults
A global, Phase 3 trial of approximately 20,000 older adult volunteers for the Bavarian Nordic A/S MVA-BN RSV vaccine candidate began this week and is expected to produce results by mid-2023. The randomized, double-blind test will gather those aged 60 years and older in both the United States... Read More »
U.S. intelligence community, international partners issue advisory on demonstrated Russian cyber threats
A joint cybersecurity advisory was issued this week by a collection of various U.S. intelligence and security agencies, as well as international partners, providing a comprehensive overview of Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats to critical infrastructure. This focus on Russia... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $260M funding for Counter-Unmanned System Threats
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded $259,831,989 to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to support S&T’s Counter-Unmanned System Threats (C-UST) efforts. Amentum Services, Inc.,... Read More »
Moderna’s bivalent COVID-19 booster platform effective against Beta, Delta and Omicron variants
New clinical data from Moderna, Inc. this week showed that a month after using a bivalent COVID-19 booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, superior vaccination efficacy was maintained against all variants of concern, including Beta, Delta, and Omicron. These results stemmed from 50 µg booster doses,... Read More »
CDC launches Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics to improve public health data response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week the launch of the new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA). The latest addition to the CDC umbrella will focus on improving U.S. capabilities to utilize data, models, and analytics for quicker decision-making... Read More »
House Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act proposes federal system migration to quantum-resistant cryptography
In an effort to safeguard information on federal systems, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation this week promoting a transition of governmental IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. The Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act... Read More »
More than 200 military cadets, civilian interns participate in three-day NSA Cyber Exercise
The National Security Agency (NSA) held its annual three-day NSA Cyber Exercise (NCX) earlier this month, gathering participants from various military academies, universities, and more to develop and test their cybersecurity skills. While the U.S. Air Force Academy was crowned the winner of the... Read More »
Law enforcement collaboration targets human trafficking
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., recently partnered with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association to detect, deter and raise human trafficking awareness. Operation Safe Passage is a high‐visibility... Read More »
Sen. Tester expresses support for opening northern border ports
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus, advocating pre-pandemic operations resume at Montana ports of entry. “We have made significant headway in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, yet most ports of entry in... Read More »
Rep. Kim introduces bill to improve enforcement coordination, crack down on retail crime
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 7499), a bipartisan bill to improve how law enforcement handles organized retail crime. According to a 2019 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Buy Safe... Read More »
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans seek hearing regarding Title 42 rescission
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans recently forwarded correspondence to Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), requesting a hearing regarding the Biden administration’s decision to rescind the Title 42 Public Health Order. The senators said that termination of the Title 42 order would likely result... Read More »