Ten years on from the 9/11 attacks, intelligence agencies are still struggling to strengthen the information sharing networks that broke down in 2001, says a report from the Congressional Research Service.
The Hill reports the CRS issued a 33-page report on outstanding intelligence issues that Congress needs to address.
The CRS found the U.S. is vulnerable to an attack when an agency prevents other agencies from having access to intelligence. Reasons for holding the information included a desire to protect sources, bureaucratic ineptitude or turf disputes.
“Counterterrorism requires the close coordination of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but there remain many institutional and procedural issues that complicate cooperation between the two sets of agencies,†the report says.
The House and Senate Intelligence Committees plan to hold joint public hearings on the threat of terrorism in the fall. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will appear before lawmakers Sept. 13. FBI Director Robert Mueller and National Counterterrorism Center Director Matt Olsen are scheduled to appear Oct. 6.
