Therefore, the federal  government did not generally grant state and city officials access to  classified information. Current Information- Sharing Process Not Perceived As Effective

In spite of legislation, strategies, and initiatives to improve information  sharing, federal agencies and state and city governments generally do not  consider the current information- and intelligence-sharing process to be  effective. Few of the federal agencies that responded  view state information received as timely, accurate, or relevant. Our survey results support the view that preventing terrorism is still  perceived generally as a federal responsibility. As shown in table 7, federal officials cited several barriers that they  perceive prevent them from sharing information, including concerns  over state and local officials’ ability to secure, maintain, and destroy  classified information; their lack of security clearances; and the absence of  integrated databases. If DHS does not effectively  strengthen efforts to improve the information-sharing process, the nation’s  ability to detect or prepare for attacks may be undermined. Recommendations for Executive Action

We recommend that, in developing its enterprise architecture, the  Secretary of Homeland Security work with the Attorney General of the  United States; the Secretary of Defense; the Director, Office of   Management and Budget; the Director, Central Intelligence; and other  appropriate federal, state, and city authorities and the private sector to  ensure that the enterprise architecture efforts  incorporate the existing information-sharing guidance that is contained in  the various national strategies and the information-sharing procedures  required by the Homeland Security Act to be established by the President;    establish a clearinghouse to coordinate the various information-sharing  initiatives to eliminate possible confusion and duplication of effort;  fully integrate states and cities in the national policy-making process for  information sharing and take steps to provide greater assurance that  actions at all levels of government are mutually reinforcing;  identify and address the perceived barriers to federal information sharing;  and  include the use of survey methods or related data collection approaches to  determine, over time, the needs of private and public organizations for  information related to homeland security and to measure progress in  improving information sharing at all levels of government. The Department of Homeland Security concurred with our report and  recommendations. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

Our objectives were to determine (1) what initiatives have been  undertaken to improve the sharing of information that could be used to  protect the homeland and (2) whether federal, state, and city officials  believe that the current information-sharing process is effective. We also reviewed federal, state, and city  initiatives to share information.
Why GAO Did This Study

The sharing of information by federal authorities to state and city governments is critical to effectively execute and unify homeland security efforts. This report examines (1) what initiatives have been undertaken to improve information sharing and (2) whether federal, state, and city officials believe that the current information-sharing process is effective.

What GAO Found

Since September 11, 2001, federal, state, and city governments have established initiatives to improve the sharing of information to prevent terrorism. Many of these initiatives were implemented by states and cities and not necessarily coordinated with other sharing initiatives, including those by federal agencies. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiatives under way to enhance information sharing, including the development of a homeland security blueprint, known as an "enterprise architecture," to integrate sharing between federal, state, and city authorities. GAO surveyed federal, state, and city government officials on their perceptions of the effectiveness of the current information-sharing process. Numerous studies, testimonies, reports, and congressional commissions substantiate our survey results. Overall, no level of government perceived the process as effective, particularly when sharing information with federal agencies. Information on threats, methods, and techniques of terrorists is not routinely shared; and the information that is shared is not perceived as timely, accurate, or relevant. Moreover, federal officials have not yet established comprehensive processes and procedures to promote sharing. Federal respondents cited the inability of state and city officials to secure and protect classified information, the lack of federal security clearances, and a lack of integrated databases as restricting their ability to share information. DHS needs to strengthen efforts to improve the information sharing process so that the nation's ability to detect or prepare for attacks is strengthened.