The IGP "mission is to promote an integrated national approach to homeland security by ensuring, coordinating, and advancing federal interaction with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments The purpose of the office's operations is multi-faceted: to facilitate communication between the Department's expert resources and the expert resources of the nation's autonomous governments; to act as an advocate for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments within the Department; and to coordinate and maintain constant awareness of the various bilateral communications occurring regularly throughout the Department.The Office of Intergovernmental Programs' overarching goal is to facilitate timely and meaningful consultation by the Department and its agencies with our state, local, tribal, and territorial partners". (DHS, Office of Intergovernmental Programs, September 26, 2007)