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FEDERALhearing transcript

Hearing on Security Clearance Processing and Backlogs

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 115-123]SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT

January 1, 2019

security clearancenational securitymilitary readinessbackground investigationsDepartment of Defensegovernment oversight

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The Frame

What this does

The efficiency of the security clearance process directly impacts the government's ability to hire national security personnel and maintain military readiness.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Defense

The agency is assuming responsibility for background investigations for all federal agencies.

Office of Personnel Management employees

These employees are undergoing a personnel conversion process as the investigation function moves to the Department of Defense.

National security personnel applicants

The speed of the security clearance process determines the timeline for their hiring.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to review the status of the security clearance background investigation backlog. The committee discussed the ongoing transition of background investigation responsibilities to the Department of Defense and the use of technology to improve processing timelines.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was the fifth subcommittee event focused on security clearance reform.
  • The Department of Defense is in the process of assuming responsibility for background investigations for all federal agencies.
  • The National Background Investigations Bureau reported a reduction in the investigation backlog over the six months prior to December 2018.
  • The Department of Defense is implementing continuous evaluation and automated processes to reduce timelines for periodic reinvestigations.
  • Concerns were raised regarding the potential for the adjudication phase of the clearance process to become a new bottleneck as investigative timelines improve.
  • The subcommittee is monitoring the personnel conversion process for Office of Personnel Management employees moving to the Department of Defense.
  • The hearing took place on December 12, 2018, in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a backlog in security clearances?
The document notes that the backlog affects the hiring of national security personnel and that the committee is reviewing management initiatives and the transition of responsibilities to the Department of Defense to address it.
Is the Department of Defense taking over all background checks?
Yes, the administration announced a plan to transfer responsibility for background investigations for all federal agencies to the Department of Defense.
Are automated processes replacing human investigators?
The Department is using automation for s, but the Ranking Member noted that certain parts of the process, such as reference interviews, cannot be replaced by technology.

Why It Matters

The efficiency of the security clearance process directly impacts the government's ability to hire national security personnel and maintain military readiness.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Centralization of Background Investigations

The hearing confirms a major policy shift moving all federal background investigation responsibilities to the Department of Defense.

Department of DefenseNational Background Investigations Bureau

Connected Entities

personVicky Hartzler“Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; absent due to a ”Map →
organizationDepartment of Defense“The agency assuming responsibility for all federal background investigations.”Map →
personSeth Moulton“Representative from Massachusetts; Ranking Member of the subcommittee.”Map →
organizationNational Background Investigations Bureau“The agency currently managing background investigations during the transition.”Map →
personGarry P. Reid“Director for Defense Intelligence, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for ”Map →
personCharles S. Phalen, Jr.“Director, National Background Investigations Bureau.”Map →
personDaniel E. Payne“Director, Defense Security Service.”Map →
personMatt Gaetz“Representative from Florida; presided over the hearing.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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