Update on Security Clearance Reform

As the Bush Administration comes to an end, Executive branch officials reportedly are hopeful that ongoing reforms of the security clearance process will remain a priority.

An official in the Office of the Director for National Intelligence says “sustained leadership attention” will be necessary.

Meantime, according to a recent government report, on average, the Intelligence Community is processing new clearances within revised deadlines, with new clearances taking 102 days and renewed clearances 135 days. It still takes other agencies much longer, though there has been improvement.

Reforms in 2009 include improvements to clearance verification processes and to reciprocity among agencies.

The most recent update did not include mention of steps, if any, being taken to ensure that clearance processing is more transparent and that agencies are being held accountable for unfair treatment in clearance adjudication. Much of the attention on clearance reforms remains focused on speed, not quality.

Filed Under: Reform