Threats
TSA details firearm catch rate at airport security checkpoints
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently indicated officers detected twice as many firearms per million passengers screened at airport security checkpoints nationwide in 2020 compared to 2019. “I commend our officers for their commitment to TSA’s security mission by... Read More »
Kinzinger, Kelly reintroduce legislation seeking to amend trafficking victim protections
Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) recently reintroduced a bill designed to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, encouraging a victim-centered approach to combat human trafficking. The Reducing the Demand for Human Trafficking Act targets those who purchase or... Read More »
New CDC data reveals 476,000 Americans diagnosed with Lyme Disease annually
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease cases are growing in the United States, which released a new report showing annual cases are 10 times higher than what they were reported in 2018. Some 476,000 people are now being diagnosed and treated for Lyme... Read More »
Antibody combos of bamlanivimab, etesevimab reduce risk of severe COVID-19 effects by 70 percent
In new data released by Eli Lilly and Company, a cocktail of neutralizing antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab reduced COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths by 70 percent among more than 1,000 high-risk patients. According to the report, which was based on the BLAZE-1 phase three... Read More »
DHS S&T initiates funding opportunity for new center of excellence
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has announced a $36.5 million funding opportunity for a new DHS Center of Excellence (COE). The COE's focus would be Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks (ESE). DHS is soliciting center lead... Read More »
Boeing, Sikorsky detail advanced helicopter collaboration
Boeing and Sikorsky personnel have detailed its advanced helicopter, DEFIANT X, which will be entered into the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition. The companies indicated DEFIANT X would be the fastest, most maneuverable, and most survivable assault helicopter in... Read More »
Global economy could lose $9.2T without equitable COVID vaccine distribution
According to a new study by the International Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation, the global economy stands to lose as much as $9.2 trillion if governments fail to ensure developing economy access to COVID-19 vaccines. The study demonstrates the economic case to invest in the Access to... Read More »
Merck halts development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates due to poor immunity showings
Although well-tolerated, Merck’s two COVID-19 vaccine candidates -- V590 and V591 -- have been discontinued due to immune responses well below those provided by natural infection or other vaccines. “We are grateful to our collaborators who worked with us on these vaccine candidates and to... Read More »
Study: prescription opioid use down 60 percent from 2011 peak
A recent report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science finds that prescription use of opioids has fallen 60 percent since its peak in 2011. Changes in clinical use, regulatory and reimbursement policies, and progressively more restrictive legislation have led to the reduced use, the... Read More »
Experts offer business, public health considerations for fighting a pandemic
The development and deployment of an effective vaccine for COVID-19 could be the turning point in the fight against the deadly pandemic, and companies involved in the process must make specific business and public health considerations simultaneously to help ensure a successful outcome, experts... Read More »
Emergent, Humanigen sign deal to accelerate the manufacturing of lenzilumab
Emergent BioSolutions and Humanigen have signed a contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services agreement to accelerate the manufacturing of the drug lenzilumab. Lenzilumab is an anti-human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) monoclonal antibody designed to prevent... Read More »
In vitro neutralization studies confirm lessened Moderna vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 mutations
In a manuscript posted to a preprint server, Moderna Inc. addressed Monday the results of in vitro neutralization studies of sera from people vaccinated against emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2, which produced lesser, though still protective, results. Specifically, the variants being fretted over... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative praises Biden plan to extend New START agreement with Russia
The Nuclear Threat Initiative applauded the Biden Administration for extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia for an additional five years. The New START agreement was reached in 2011 with Russia to reduce nuclear arms in both countries. The 10-year agreement was... Read More »
Reps. Spanberger, Katko introduce bill to combat online disinformation
U.S. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced a bill to protect against the influence of foreign actors that seek to sow political division through online disinformation campaigns. Foreign adversaries — such as Russia, China, and Iran -- continue to exploit existing... Read More »
Rep. Gottheimer advocates federal action against extremism, domestic terrorism
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) is advocating new federal action countering what he described as violent extremism and domestic terrorism after the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Gottheimer is encouraging the Biden Administration to restore the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) within the... Read More »
Combating Global Corruption Act reintroduced in Senate
Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) have reintroduced a measure they said would make efforts to address global corruption a national security priority. The Combating Global Corruption Act would raise the profile of fighting international corruption noting the violation erodes trust and... Read More »
Democratic senators seek to tackle COVID-19 pandemic with new Health Force
U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Brian Schatz (D-HI), together with eight Democratic colleagues, introduced legislation last week that would create a Health Force to recruit, train and employ thousands to aid vaccine distribution. The Health Force would be tasked... Read More »
COVAX initiative secures agreement for up to 40 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
COVAX announced last week that a new purchase agreement with Pfizer-BioNTech will secure up to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for rollout, offering the potential to deliver at least 2 billion doses of vaccines, equitably, by year’s end. “Today marks another milestone for COVAX:... Read More »
CISA releases resources to help organizations combat ransomware
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is launching an effort to encourage public and private sector organizations to implement best practices to mitigate ransomware risks. The Reduce the Risk of Ransomware Campaign will raise awareness about the importance of combating... Read More »
Sen. Baldwin backs plan to invoke Defense Production Act for COVID vaccines, supplies
President Joe Biden signed executive orders to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to increase the production and stockpiling of vaccines, medical and testing supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The executive actions also boost public transparency and increase coordination... Read More »
Agreement bolsters U.S.-U.K. supply chain security
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said an agreement reached between the United States and the United Kingdom would strengthen supply chain security. “This arrangement will take U.S.-UK cooperation on supply chain security to the next level,” William A. Ferrara, executive... Read More »
Bill would create National Commission on U.S. Capitol attack
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has introduced a measure designed to create a national commission to provide a complete account of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The National Commission on the Insurrectionist Attack Upon the United States Capitol Act would also address preparedness and... Read More »
Oklahoma Pandemic Center for Innovation and Excellence opens in Stillwater
The Oklahoma Pandemic Center for Innovation and Excellence (OPCIE) officially opened in Stillwater, Okla., this week, presenting a new lab, genetic biorepository, and science lab to address public health concerns. The facility is meant to serve as a frontline of defense against future... Read More »
Global Health Security Act reintroduced to House to address U.S. global health needs
In an attempt to address U.S. global health security staffing and to provide a permanent designated official for coordinating interagency health response, 57 House members supported the reintroduction of the Global Health Security Act this week. Led by U.S. Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), president... Read More »
Sen. Portman secures commitment from Blinken to combat foreign disinformation
During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing this week, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) secured commitments from Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken to support the efforts of the Global Engagement Center (GEC) to combat disinformation and propaganda from foreign actors, like Russia and... Read More »
DOT’s Maritime Administration approves construction of National Security Multi-Mission Vessels
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) gave the go-ahead to build two additional National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV). These vessels will replace aging training vessels at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Me., and Texas A&M Maritime Academy in... Read More »
Border Patrol agents seize nearly $3M in meth in Laredo
Officers in Laredo seized more than $2.8 million worth of methamphetamine at the World Trade Bridge, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), said Wednesday. Officers assigned to the cargo facility at the World Trade Bridge encountered a tractor-trailer... Read More »
Study examines ease of antibiotic resistance spread
Chalmers University of Technology researchers have determined that significant genetic transfer between bacteria in our ecosystems and humans may be linked to pathogenic bacteria in humans developing resistance to antibiotics. "In recent years, we've seen that resistance genes spread to human... Read More »
Biden-Harris administration pledges United States to work with World Health Organization
President Joe Biden has returned the United States to the fold of the World Health Organization (WHO), dispatching his Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to address the body and make that return official. “I am honored to announce that the United States will remain a member of the World... Read More »
Sens. Baldwin, Murphy rally support for invoking Defense Production Act to maximize medical equipment, supply output
In a letter to President Joe Biden this week, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) led 24 other senators in supporting full use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ramp up the production and stockpiling of medical, testing and protective equipment for use in the COVID-19... Read More »
Bill to strengthen federal government’s response to domestic terrorism introduced in House
A bill designed to strengthen the federal government’s ability to prevent and investigate acts of domestic terrorism was introduced in the House this week. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 (H.R. 350) DTPA would authorize three offices -- one each within the Department of Homeland... Read More »
Defense Department to investigate white supremacy and extremist ideology within military
The U.S. Department of Defense will investigate the prevalence of white supremacy and extremist ideology in the ranks of the military. The investigation comes after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers said that several of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol have been... Read More »
Report examines Defense Department’s GPS modernization efforts
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis has determined Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to develop a jam-resistant GPS capability for the military called M-code has been delayed, causing ripple effects. Per the GAO, modernized satellites are in space, but receiver equipment needed... Read More »
HHS awards nearly $20M in effort to boost immunization data sharing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award nearly $20 million in funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act to increase data sharing between health information exchanges and immunization information systems. “These CARES Act funds will... Read More »