Short Takes – 9-11-25

The Top 10 Things I’d Like to See in University OT Cybersecurity Curriculum (2025 Edition). Tisiphone.net blog post. Pull quote: “To counter this problem, I try to do outreach to universities and trade schools, in order to make a difference in what is being taught and bring more attention to the problem of OT security. As a component of this, I’ve decided to maintain a list of the top 10 things I would like covered in cybersecurity curriculum related to OT. Here’s the list:”

Democrats dig in against GOP budget strategy, heightening odds of shutdown. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “From the House minority, Jeffries and the Democrats have no power to block the funding legislation if Johnson is able to rally GOP lawmakers behind it. The longer-term question is whether Democrats would also hold the line in the Senate, where they have the power to sink the bill in the form of a filibuster — if they choose to use it.”

Exclusive-US warns hidden radios may be embedded in solar-powered highway infrastructure. Reuters.com article. Pull quote: “In its advisory, the Federal Highway Administration warning cited federal and state-level reporting about “undocumented cellular radios” found inside inverters and batteries and that national-level assessments had determined that they could pose a risk.”

America Can’t Afford Chemical Security Gaps. HSToday.com article. Pull quote: “When CFATS expired in July 2023, the nation lost its only federal program dedicated to chemical facility security. That lapse has left facilities more exposed—without clear federal guidance, without specialized oversight, and without a unifying standard to measure readiness. The gap cannot be filled by private sector programs alone, no matter how well-intentioned.” Industry continues to call for security regulations.

Unprecedented collapse: Panama's ocean upwelling fails for the first time in 40 years. Earth.com article. Pull quote: “The 2025 season broke the pattern in clear ways. Historically, Panama’s upwelling began by January 20, lasted about 66 days, and surface temperatures sometimes dipped to 66.2°F, with extremes near 58.8°F. In 2025, surface temperatures did not fall below the 77°F threshold until March 4 – 42 days later than usual. The cool period persisted for only 12 days, an 82 percent reduction, and the minimum temperature was about 73.9°F.”

CISA pushes final cyber incident reporting rule to May 2026. CyberScoop.com article. Pull quote: ““We received a significant number of public comments on the proposed rule, many of which emphasized the need to reduce the scope and burden, improve harmonization of CIRCIA with other federal cyber incident reporting requirements, and ensure clarity,” said Marci McCarthy, director of public affairs at CISA. “Stakeholder input is extremely important as we work to draft a rule that improves our collective security. CISA remains committed to implementing CIRCIA to maximize impact while minimizing unnecessary burden to entities in critical infrastructure sectors.””

Ebola Cases Rise as Authorities Race to Contain Congo Outbreak, Health Agency Says. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “The suspected cases have increased from 28 to 68 in recent days, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at an online briefing. It has also spread from two to four districts while the death toll currently stands at 16.”

$10 Million in Contraceptives Have Been Destroyed on Orders From Trump Officials. NYTimes.com article (free). Pull quote: “The pills, intrauterine devices and hormonal implants, valued at about $9.7 million, had been purchased by the agency before it was largely dismantled earlier this year. They had been stuck in a warehouse in Belgium for months, since the State Department said that contraception was not “lifesaving” and that the United States would no longer fund the purchase of birth control products for low-income nations.”