Fusion Center Accountability and Intergovernmental Information Sharing

Following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the states cooperated in the establishment of fusion centers to facilitate sharing of data across government agencies, as well as across the public and private sectors. Based on interviews with officials in thirty-six different fusion centers and review of government documents and reports on fusion centers' activities, this article analyzes the interjurisdictional, regulatory, and legal accountability arrangements for these centers. Our findings indicate that fusion centers operate in a manner consistent with "opportunistic federalism" or "soft governance." Accountability in such a setting is particularly difficult but especially in the absence of shared professional goals as appears to be the case for fusion centers.