WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, co-led the Subcommittee's joint roundtable with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise. The members held the roundtable during National Police Week to examine how federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and intelligence sharing support a robust homeland security posture.
“This National Police Week, it was an honor to hear directly from leaders in the law enforcement and intelligence communities about the ways we can better support their missions and ensure we are prepared to secure upcoming international events on U.S. soil. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, this roundtable was a valuable opportunity to discuss the Subcommittee’s work to reform DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis and examine ways to strengthen information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement. At a time of heightened homeland security threats, I remain committed to giving our law enforcement officers the support and resources they need to fulfill their no-fail mission to protect the American people and our values,”said Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX).
As the United States prepares to host significant large-scale events over the next several years, including the America 250 Celebration, the FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Summer Olympics, federal law enforcement must build and maintain a productive and open line of intelligence sharing with state and local law enforcement. The roundtable highlighted the dangerous impacts of a siloed approach to law enforcement.
Participants included representatives from key law enforcement stakeholders, including the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Fusion Center Association (NFCA), Secure Community Network (SCN), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A), and the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEE).
Pictures are available for broadcast and distribution below:
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Subcommittee on National Intelligence Enterprise Chairman Austin Scott (R-GA) released the following statements on the Roundtable:
“Effective coordination between DHS and law enforcement is critical to identifying threats, sharing intelligence quickly, and preventing attacks before they occur. Congress must ensure that operational coordination, information sharing, and counterterrorism response capabilities are working at the speed and scale required by today’s threat environment,” said Subcommittee on National Intelligence Enterprise Chairman Austin Scott (R-GA).
“As the nation prepares to host a series of high-profile, high-stakes events over the coming years, we must ensure all measures are taken to guarantee the highest level of preparedness to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in attendance. As we continue to operate in a heightened threat environment, we should never let a lack of imagination be our downfall. Robust and comprehensive intelligence sharing is a vital part of this effort. One of the most glaring and unsurprising gaps highlighted during today’s discussion was the lack of coordination and engagement between DHS’s Office of Bomb Prevention and local jurisdictions’ bomb squads. This is unacceptable and must be addressed to maintain a ‘left of boom’ posture. Additionally, as we move ahead, I look forward to working with NIE Chairman Scott, CTI Chairman Pfluger, and Chairman Garbarino within our shared jurisdiction of DHS I&A to ensure I&A is working effectively and appropriately to carry out its true mission of facilitating information sharing with state, local, and tribal law enforcement,” said House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR).
