United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-11-09 monographic deposited born digital 17 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-233T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T P0b002ee180394005 f:d06233t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T GAO-06-233T Background investigations Classified defense information Eligibility determinations Homeland security Internal controls National security personnel system Performance measures Personnel security clearance programs Policy evaluation Quality assurance Security clearances Strategic planning Timeliness Testimony A41257 Unauthorized disclosure of classified information can cause up to exceptionally grave damage to national security. The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for about 2 million personnel with clearances that allow them access to classified information. While most of these clearances are for servicemembers and DOD's employees and contractors, DOD is also responsible for contractors' clearances for more than 20 other agencies, as well as for congressional staff. Due to long-standing problems with DOD's clearance program, GAO designated it a high-risk area in January 2005. In February 2005, when DOD transferred its personnel security investigative functions to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the average wait for a top secret clearance governmentwide was over 1 year. In June 2005, Executive Order 13381 gave the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) authority to retain or assign to any executive agency any process relating to determinations of eligibility for access to classified information. OPM is assisting OMB with the development of the plan. GAO was asked to assess the government plan. This testimony will provide GAO's preliminary review of how well the government plan (1) adheres to the standards of comprehensive strategic planning and (2) addresses the timeliness and quality of the security clearance process. Finally, GAO will discuss the actions required to remove DOD's program from GAO's high-risk list. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T.pdf GAO-06-233T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-233T Testimony GAO-06-233T; DOD Personnel Clearances: Government Plan Addresses Some Longstanding Problems with DOD's Program, But Concerns Remain; Background investigations Classified defense information Eligibility determinations Homeland security Internal controls National security personnel system Performance measures Personnel security clearance programs Policy evaluation Quality assurance Security clearances Strategic planning Timeliness Public Law 103-62