Homeland Security – 9/11 Commission Report

The 9/11 Commission Report concluded that the failure of the intelligence community (IC) to share information between agencies and levels of government lead to significant gaps in situational awareness. The terrorists exploited those gaps to plan and execute their attacks. Over the years since 9/11, in an effort to improve the nation’s ability to share information and intelligence, more than 70 fusion centers have been created at the local, regional, and state levels. These efforts have not been without considerable cost and concerns, such as privacy. The recession of 2008–09 and lack of major terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11 resulted in local and state leaders having to rethink their ability to provide ongoing investments in these centers. Your local leadership has requested your assistance in assessing the situation.