The Department of Homeland Security has changed its mind and will allow state and local officials to participate in the Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group, designed to share information about potential threats with state and local officials.

DHS had previously objected to having state and local participants in a group meant to send them relevant and useful threat information, saying it would cause “unnecessary confusion.”

State and local governments have long complained that DHS doesn’t share information with them in a timely manner, nor does it always share the information that they need.

The new group is expected to be up and running within the next few weeks, give or take a few months.

The unit, to be housed at the National Counterterrorism Center in Northern Virginia, is expected to have two or three state and local officials on its staff of about 15.

Members of the group would likely come from the FBI, CIA, National Security Agency and other federal agencies, according to internal documents. The group would evaluate the sources and content of terrorism information and issue reports tailored to state and local needs.

Kerry Sleeper, Vermont’s homeland security adviser, who has been representing state homeland advisers in the negotiations, said he found Homeland Security’s new position “encouraging.” But he added that the department’s prolonged opposition had damaged relations with state and local officials.

He said that “it’ll remain to be seen” whether the strongly held opinions of Homeland Security officials “can be overcome with a simple [directive to] make it happen. This type of process requires trust and collaboration.” — Baltimore Sun

Because, well, you know, that state police officer just might be a terrorist. Yes, that’s the way Homeland Security operates.

It’s nice, at least, to see that Homeland Security is starting to learn how to share and to play well with others. The rest of us learned that in kindergarten.