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 2008-05-22 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-08-776T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T P0b002ee1803a34ec f:d08776t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T GAO-08-776T Background investigations Classified defense information Classified information Cost analysis Cost overruns Data integrity Eligibility determinations Employee retention Employees Funds management Information leaking Investigations by federal agencies Personnel security clearance programs Personnel security policies Quality improvement Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk factors Risk management Schedule slippages Security clearance backlogs Security clearances Security investigations Strategic planning Cost estimates Program goals or objectives Program implementation GAO High Risk Series Testimony A82168 Since 1974, GAO has examined personnel security clearance processes and acquired a historical view of key factors to consider in reform efforts. GAO placed the Department of Defense's (DOD) personnel security clearance program, which represents 80 percent of federal government clearances, on its high-risk list in 2005 due to long-standing problems. These problems include incomplete investigative reports from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency primarily responsible for providing clearance investigation services; the granting of some clearances by DOD adjudicators even when required data were missing from the investigative reports used to make such determinations; and delays in completing clearance processing. Delays can lead to a heightened risk of disclosure of classified information, additional costs and delays in completing related contracts, and problems retaining qualified personnel. DOD has reported on these continuing delays. However, there has been recent high-level governmentwide attention to improving the process, including establishing a team to develop a reformed federal government security clearance process. This statement addresses four key factors that should be considered in personnel security clearance reforms. This statement draws on GAO's past work, which included reviews of clearance-related documents and interviews of senior officials at DOD and OPM. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T.htm GAO-08-776T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-776T Testimony GAO-08-776T; Personnel Clearances: Key Factors for Reforming the Security Clearance Process; Background investigations Classified defense information Classified information Cost analysis Cost overruns Data integrity Eligibility determinations Employee retention Employees Funds management Information leaking Investigations by federal agencies Personnel security clearance programs Personnel security policies Quality improvement Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk factors Risk management Schedule slippages Security clearance backlogs Security clearances Security investigations Strategic planning Cost estimates Program goals or objectives Program implementation GAO High Risk Series Volume 120 Page 1884 120 Stat. 1884 Public Law 108-458 Public Law 109-347 Public Law 109-364