Threats
Pending legislation would revamp Strategic National Stockpile
Proposed congressional legislation would overhaul the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), expand domestic manufacturing of medical supplies and improve America’s preparedness for public health emergencies. U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on June 8 unveiled the... Read More »
DHS Secretary Mayorkas, Mayor Garcetti tour Los Angeles Cyber Lab
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti toured Thursday the Los Angeles Cyber Lab to receive a briefing on its operational capabilities. The lab, funded by public-private partnerships, was established in 2017 by the Mayor’s office to better... Read More »
DHS outlines allocation plan for border barrier funds
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently outlined the plan for allocating border barrier funds ending wall expansion to the extent permitted by law. The prior administration sought to spend over $15 billion on wall construction, diverting more than $10 billion of those funds from... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Brooks seek full funding missile defense program
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Mo Brooks (R-AL) recently forwarded correspondence to the House Appropriations Committee requesting full funding for missile defense programs in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The representatives sent a letter to House Appropriations Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN)... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee leaders press for federal action on infrastructure-targeting ransomware
The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee -- U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) -- wrote to the Biden administration this week to urge efforts to counter mounting ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure. In the... Read More »
U.S. Phase 3 trial reveals Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to be 90 percent effective against COVID-19
A fourth strong contender appears to have emerged for COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, as this week’s results from the Phase 3 PREVENT-19 trial of the Novavax, Inc. COVID-19 demonstrated a 90 percent overall efficacy against the disease. The NVX-CoV2373 vaccine fully protected against... Read More »
FDA: Two batches of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured at Emergent BioSolutions facility good to go
Two batches of COVID-19 vaccine solution that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. manufactures for Johnson & Johnson at its Baltimore Bayview facility are suitable for use, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday. “These actions followed an extensive review of records,... Read More »
DHS S&T Evaluates Wildfire Sensors with California Emergency Responders
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced Thursday that it had successfully tested early wildfire detection technology prototypes this week in California. Conducted during a controlled, prescribed burn at the Dye Creek Preserve near Red... Read More »
CBP, NICB partnership targets criminal smuggling operations
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) personnel said a recently formed partnership would target criminal smuggling enterprises. The partnership is tied to Operation Sentinel, a new counter-network targeting operation launched in April 2021. Operation... Read More »
NTI offers U.S. nuclear policies, reengagement guidance
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) personnel said the recent offering of its U.S. Nuclear Policies for a Safer World seeks to bolster efforts to reduce growing nuclear risks. The set of papers calls for establishing a bipartisan liaison group between Congress and the administration and policy... Read More »
Moderna files to expand authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine for 12-18 year olds
Following positive test results, Moderna, Inc. filed last week with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the scope of its COVID-19 vaccine’s emergency use authorization (EUA) to include adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. This expansion push follows the results of a... Read More »
BARDA, Dascena partner on advanced software to predict worsening health among hospitalized COVID-19 patients
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will provide $706,534 in funding for Dascena, Inc. to further its COViage system, potentially expanding its machine learning capabilities to predict deteriorating health among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Hospitalized COVID-19... Read More »
Bicameral legislators introduce measure to protect U.S. from COVID variants
On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to introduce legislation that would expand the U.S. response to the coronavirus on an international level. The Nullifying Opportunities for Variants... Read More »
Senate advances cyberattack response legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded Senate action advancing legislation designed to expedite the government’s ability to respond to cyberattacks. The measure was advanced with a larger legislative package enhancing domestic competitiveness on the global... Read More »
TSA reopens Innovation Checkpoint initiative
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced a partnership with Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to reopen the Innovation Checkpoint initiative, using security technologies to bolster passenger screening. The effort follows the return of the convention... Read More »
WHO call for antimicrobial resistance surveillance reports met record number of confirmed infection reports in 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) gained more than 3 million lab-confirmed infection case reports in response -- a record figure -- in response to a call issued last year for input into the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS). These country-by-country reports... Read More »
U.S. federal government to acquire 1.7 million doses of Merck’s molnupiravir COVID-19 antiviral following FDA authorization
A new agreement struck between the Biden administration and Merck & Co. will provide the U.S. government with 1.7 million courses of the company’s investigational COVID-19 antiviral treatment, molnupiravir. This agreement is contingent upon either emergency use authorization (EUA) or approval... Read More »
Biden administration recommends changes to ensure security of pharmaceutical supply chain
The White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released policy recommendations Tuesday to ensure the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains.... Read More »
Senate unanimously advances legislation to support “Havana Syndrome” victims
The Senate unanimously advanced Monday legislation designed to support American public servants who have incurred brain injuries from likely directed energy attacks. Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Intelligence Committee Vice... Read More »
Senate advances innovation investment protection bill
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded recent Senate action advancing a measure designed to protect the more than $100 billion investment in research from global competitors. The Safeguarding American Innovation Act was advanced as a part of the U.S.... Read More »
Henry Schein earns $53.4M contract from HHS to support Strategic National Stockpile’s PPE storage, distribution
In efforts to improve the Strategic National Stockpile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a $53.4 million contract to Henry Schein, Inc. this week for the storage and distribution of 80,000 pallets of personal protective equipment and COVID-19 related products. This... Read More »
DiaSorin awarded $4.6M federal contract to increase COVID-19 test capacity
The U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have awarded a $4.6 million contract to DiaSorin Inc. to boost production capacity of SARS-CoV-2 serology tests by nearly eightfold, to 10 million per month by May 2022. Currently, the lab diagnostics company DiaSorin... Read More »
Reps. Pascrell, Fitzpatrick, Bost introduce fire station construction legislation
On Monday, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Michael Bost (R-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, introduced legislation that would help fire departments build and upgrade their facilities. The Fire Station Construction Grants Act would... Read More »
Justice Department seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency payed to ransomware extortionists
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently seized 63.7 bitcoins valued at approximately $2.3 million, alleging the funds represented proceeds paid after a ransomware attack. The DOJ said a group known as DarkSide initiated a ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline, resulting in critical... Read More »
Sen. Tester urges investigation attack on meat processing industry, increased security
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to Biden administration leaders requesting an investigation into a beef processing industry ransomware attack and means of bolstering cybersecurity. Tester's recent letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of... Read More »
New CDC study shows mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduce risk of infection by 91 percent among fully vaccinated
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrated continuing good news for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, crediting them with reducing the risk of infection by 91 percent for those fully vaccinated by either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. While previous... Read More »
Smallpox therapeutic marks BARDA’s 60th FDA approval/licensure/clearance through public-private partnerships
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Chimerix, Inc.’s smallpox therapeutic TEMBEXA last week marked a medical achievement and a milestone for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA itself was created in 2006. It began collaborating with... Read More »
Hagerty introduces IRON DOME legislation
U.S. Rep. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced legislation on Friday to redirect funds appropriated for Gaza and other Hamas-dominated areas to replenish Israel’s defense missile systems. The legislation, the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2021, was co-sponsored by 21 other Congressmen and... Read More »
CBP, LAWA issue proactive international travel guidance
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) personnel said the entities are implementing proactive measures to address anticipated 2021 summer season passenger demand. “CBP is proactively mitigating any potential impact in wait times by maximizing our... Read More »
GSU researcher receives $2.7M NIAID grant for study of seasonal, universal vaccination in elderly populations
A professor at Georgia State University’s Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Sang-Moo Kang, received a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) last week for a study of seasonal and universal vaccination in elderly... Read More »
More than 40 U.S. representatives call for federal action to guarantee equitable vaccine distribution worldwide
In a letter to President Joe Biden last week, more than 40 U.S. representatives sought to use the impending G7 Summit as an opportunity to call for five quick, immediate actions to guarantee COVID-19 vaccines were administered worldwide. The group, led by U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom... Read More »
Congress members release GAO report on DHS Inspector General
U.S. Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Homeland Security Committee Chairman; Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman; John Katko (R-NY), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member, and James Comer (R-KY), Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member, announced the... Read More »
Center for American Progress applauds Biden administration focus on global anti-corruption
Center for American Progress (CAP) officials are espousing the benefits of the Biden administration's decision to make global anti-corruption a prime focus of national security initiatives. The Biden administration recently released its initial National Security Study Memorandum targeting a... Read More »
Rep. Stefanik urges reopening of northern border
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to encourage efforts to reopen the U.S. northern border. Stefanik seeks the unilateral easing of non-essential travel restrictions across the northern border if a... Read More »