The National Identity Exchange Federation (NIEF) helps law enforcement and public safety agencies across the U.S. share critical information securely and efficiently—across jurisdictions, technologies, and organizational boundaries.

In today’s world, threats don’t stop at county or state lines. Whether responding to a natural disaster, investigating criminal activity, or coordinating across agencies, public safety organizations need trusted ways to collaborate. That’s where NIEF comes in.

What Is NIEF?

NIEF is a federation of public safety organizations working together to securely share sensitive information. It enables participating agencies to connect and collaborate using a peer-to-peer trust model, making information sharing faster, more reliable, and more scalable—without sacrificing control or security.

NIEF was launched in 2008 as a practical extension of the Global Federated Identity and Privilege Management (GFIPM) program. It uses a model called Federated Identity, Credential, and Access Management (Federated ICAM)—which lets agencies reuse their existing identity systems to access resources across other trusted organizations.

Why It Matters for Public Safety

NIEF helps public safety professionals get the right information, to the right people, at the right time. That means:

• Faster response times during emergencies and multi-agency incidents
• Reduced friction when collaborating across jurisdictions
• Improved accountability and security when sharing sensitive data

Learn more about the principles behind NIEF on our Philosophy and Value Proposition page.

You can also explore how Federated ICAM adds value through real-world public safety scenarios in these DHS-CISA publications:

• ICAM Value Proposition Overview (PDF)
• Hurricane Response Scenario (PDF)
• Drug Response Scenario (PDF)
• School Shooting Response Scenario (PDF)
• Austin Bombing Response Scenario (PDF)

NIEF and the Trustmark Framework

A core part of how NIEF works is through the trustmark framework—a flexible system for establishing and managing digital trust between agencies. Each participating organization uses trustmarks to clearly communicate and verify security, privacy, and operational requirements.

The trustmark framework has evolved over more than a decade through real-world pilot projects with public safety partners. It is the foundation for NIEF’s peer-to-peer trust model—enabling agencies to build relationships based on shared, verified standards.

To explore the trustmark framework in more depth, visit the Trustmark Initiative (TMI) Website.

Stay Connected

For updates, insights, and real-world applications of NIEF and the trustmark framework, check out the NIEF Blog.