WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government is in the process of creating an interagency “fusion cell” that would deal with securing the return of US hostages abroad, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest announced during a press briefing on Friday.
"We are at an interim in this review process and one of the initial proposals is the creation of a what's called a ‘fusion cell,’ this would be a working level, operationally focused group of federal employees that would enable a whole of government response to overseas hostage events.”
Earnest explained that the “fusion cell” would be comprised of US federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US department of Defense and State as well as other agencies in the intelligence community.
Earnest also said that the White House is currently working with the families of US hostages to get their input on the proposed program.
The United States’ consideration of the “fusion cell” program also comes as the Islamic State terrorist organization has been capturing many Westerners, including US citizens, to obtain funding through ransom payments.
US officials continue to say that not paying hostage ransom is an important part of the United States’ strategy to defeat the Islamic State as well as other terrorist groups.
