Security Clearance Oversight Group Issues Rept
The Security Clearance Oversight Group, created by the President to study and recommend reforms in the security clearance process, issued its report in February 2007. The report is extremely comprehensive and tracks progress in expediting clearance processing and improving reciprocity across several government entities.
Among the report’s highlights:
- Progress has been made to shorten the time necessary to process initial clearances, but significant delays remain in processing reinvestigations;
- Government agencies process 1.9 million requests for background investigations each year, to determine suitability for employment or eligibility for access to classified information;
- Top-secret clearances average one year, while Secret and Confidential clearances average 5-6 months;
- A chart noting progress and timeliness by government agency;
- Steps being taken to ensure reciprocity;
- Steps to make greater use of electronic submission of clearance applications;
The report also includes, in its Appendix, Title III, Security Clearances, of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458)
Read a news story on the report here.