Review of Domestic Sharing of Counterterrorism Information

there is a risk that DOJ components may present or discuss initiatives that do
not align with DOJ’s unified vision.
The DOJ CIO said that he had recently proposed the establishment of a
new council, the Law Enforcement Information Sharing Council (LEISC), that
would be led by the Deputy Attorney General and help coordinate the
information sharing efforts within DOJ. The proposed LEISC would provide a
platform for DOJ entities to discuss and develop a unified vision regarding
information sharing initiatives and investments, as well as ensure that DOJ
actions are consistent with the 2012 Strategy. The DOJ CIO stated that DOJ is
evaluating the LEISC, or a similar initiative, to determine how best to meet
DOJ’s operational and strategic planning needs. The DOJ OIG believes that
the LEISC or a similar initiative could provide a valuable forum for the
discussion and coordination of DOJ information sharing efforts, including
overall strategy and investments. Information gleaned from this council’s
discussions could then be used during discussions with the PM-ISE and the
CICC.
Recommendations: DOJ OIG recommends that DOJ:
10. Develop a comprehensive internal counterterrorism information
sharing strategic plan based on a review of the President’s strategic plan
and in consultation with relevant partners.
11. Implement a council, led by a senior Department official, for the
internal coordination of DOJ information sharing strategy and
investments, and ensure that relevant components designate senior-level
officials responsible for monitoring their component’s efforts and
communicating their efforts to DOJ as requested.
JTTF Executive Board Meeting Participation and Content
JTTFs, which are squads within each of the FBI’s Field Divisions and
select Resident Agency Offices, focus primarily on addressing terrorism threats
and preventing terrorist incidents. The JTTFs leverage the resources and
expertise of multiple member agencies to collect and share counterterrorism
information. As of March 2016, the JTTFs were comprised of 54 federal
agencies and 449 state, local, and other agencies. For example, DHS has more
than 600 agents who participate on the 104 JTTFs nationwide. These DHS
personnel help enhance the JTTFs’ efforts through their unique expertise in
areas such as immigration and customs enforcement.
In 2003, FBI field divisions were instructed to establish a JTTF Executive
Board if they did not already have one. While the JTTFs conduct joint
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