Homeland Security Information Sharing

2003-07-31Executive Order 13311
Signed by: George W. Bush
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Headline: Assigns Information Sharing Authority to Homeland Security Secretary and Others

What it does: The order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue procedures governing federal information sharing and classified access, delegating limited functions jointly to the Attorney General and intelligence director.

Real World Impact:
  • All federal agencies must follow Secretary-issued procedures for homeland security information sharing.
  • State and local personnel access to certain classified information is discretionary and not appealable.
  • Attorney General and the Director of Central Intelligence jointly exercise a delegated presidential function.
Topics: information sharing, homeland security, classified information, federal operations, intelligence

Summary

This order assigns the President's information-sharing duties under the Homeland Security Act to the Secretary of Homeland Security and requires the Secretary to issue procedures for federal information sharing.

Those procedures apply to all federal agencies; some specific functions remain assigned jointly to the Attorney General and the Director of Central Intelligence. The order also makes decisions about whether state and local personnel may access certain classified information discretionary and final, not subject to appeal.

It is meant to improve internal government management and does not create new legal rights.

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