The term
"information sharing" gained popularity as a result of the
9/11 Commission Hearings and its
report of the
United States government's lack of response to information known about the planned
terrorist attack on the
New York City World Trade Center prior to the event. The resulting commission report led to the enactment of several executive orders by
President Bush that mandated agencies implement policies to "share information" across organizational boundaries. In addition, an
Information Sharing Environment Program Manager was appointed, tasked to implement the provisions of the
Intelligence Reform and Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2004. In making recommendation toward the creation of an "Information Sharing Environment" the 9/11 Commission based itself on the findings and recommendations made by the
Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age.