DOD Personnel Clearances: DOD Needs to Overcome Impediments to Eliminating Backlog and Determining its Size

Abstract

Terrorist attacks and espionage cases have heightened national security concerns and highlighted the need for a timely, high-quality personnel security clearance process. However, GAO's past work found that the Department of Defense (DOD) had a clearance backlog and other problems with its process. GAO was asked to address: (1) What is the size of DODs security clearance backlog, and how accurately is DOD able to estimate its size? (2) What factors impede DODs ability to eliminate the backlog and accurately determine its size? (3) What are the potential adverse effects of those impediments to eliminating DOD's backlog and accurately estimating the backlog's size? GAO was also asked to determine the status of the congressionally authorized transfer of Defense Security Service (DSS) investigative functions and personnel to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 09, 2004
Accession Number
AD1167344

Entities

People

  • Derek B. Stewart
  • Frank Bowen
  • Jack E. Edwards
  • Nancy L. Benco
  • Robert R. Poetta

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

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  • Accountability
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Employment
  • Government Employees
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Standards
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  • United States
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  • Workload

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.