§1741b Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell

Summary

The President must set up a Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and require the heads of the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and any other agencies the President names to provide staff to it. The Cell must have a full-time Director who is a senior U.S. official, a Family Engagement Coordinator who makes sure all government contact with a hostage’s family is coordinated and accurate and who can do the same for families of U.S. nationals wrongfully detained abroad if asked, and other staff as needed. The Cell brings agencies together to share information, expertise, and resources to help bring U.S. hostages home. If ordered, it also handles other hostage cases or helps with wrongful detentions. Under National Security Council guidance, it must identify recovery options and recommend them to the President, share information across agencies and with families and foreign partners, track and report cases to the President and Congress, support declassification with the Director of National Intelligence, help hostages and families, advise on prevention and preparedness, and coordinate responses to congressional and media inquiries. The Cell is housed in the FBI for administrative purposes.