Personnel Security Clearances: Additional Actions Needed to Implement Key Reforms and Improve Timely Processing of Investigations
Abstract
The government-wide personnel security clearance process was designated as a high-risk area in January 2018 because it represents one of the highest management risks in government. This testimony focuses on, among other things, the extent to which executive branch agencies (1) made progress reforming the security clearance process, and (2) are meeting timeliness objectives and reducing NBIBs investigative backlog. GAOs statement is based on information from public versions of its reports issued in November 2017 on continuous evaluation of clearance holders and in December 2017 on clearance reform efforts. Information that ODNI and OPM deemed sensitive was omitted. For those reports, GAO reviewed Executive Orders and PAC strategic documents; obtained data from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on the timeliness of initial clearances and periodic reinvestigations; and interviewed officials from ODNI, NBIB, and other agencies. In November 2017 and December 2017, GAO made 12 recommendations to the DNI and the Director of NBIB, including setting a milestone for establishing measures for investigation quality, developing a plan to meet background investigation timeliness objectives, and developing a plan for reducing the backlog. NBIB concurred with the recommendations. The DNI concurred with some, but not all, of GAOs recommendations. GAO continues to believe they are valid.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1170277
Entities
People
- Brenda S. Farrell
- James Krustapentus
- John Van Schaik
- Kimberly Seay
- Michael Shaughnessy
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office