Security Clearance Investigative Priorities
Abstract
During our audit to determine the status of actions taken within DoD relating to access reciprocity between special access programs, we identified problems with obtaining security clearances that affected the execution of special access programs and other DoD operations. This report addresses the overall issue of whether security clearances were being obtained and updated for personnel in the most critical and high-risk positions. We addressed the impact of obtaining background investigations for security clearances on three special access programs in Inspector General, DoD Report No. D-2000-072, "Expediting Security Clearance Background Investigations for Three Special Access Programs" (U), January 31, 2000 (SECRET). Future audit reports will cover the mechanisms for tracking the status of requested clearances, the adjudication processes, the impact of security clearance issues on special access programs, access reciprocity, and the acquisitiqn of the Case Control Management System. There is no DoD-wide system to prioritize security clearance requirements. As a result, there is no assurance that personnel in mission-critical and high-risk positions will receive timely security clearances, as the DoD has been unable to prevent major delays in the investigative process. Without standards for assessing risk and focusing resources, mission-critical programs will be operationally impacted and subjected to a higher risk of compromise. For details of the audit results, see the Finding section of this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 05, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA375812
Entities
People
- Ellen P. Neff
- Lois A. Therrien
- Robert K. West
- Thomas F. Gimble
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense