Intelligence Fusion Centers for Homeland Security

This exploratory case study evaluates how effectively federal agencies share terrorism intelligence with fusion centers through interviews with senior leaders, federal agents deployed to fusion centers, and intelligence analysts working in fusion centers. Findings indicated that information sharing was hindered by both technology and inter-organizational relationships between the fusion centers and federal agencies. This study recommends enhanced information sharing approaches in order to alleviate the tension between federal and local agencies and remove obstacles, particularly related to classified intelligence related to counterterrorism. Doing so can improve the dynamics between federal and local agencies, thereby allowing critical information to be shared with state and local governments in a proactive manner that may better protect communities from catastrophic terrorist attacks.