Access Delayed: Fixing the Security Clearance Process

This hearing will examine the security clearance process, which was designated by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as one of the high-risk areas for the Department of Defense (DoD) in January 2005. Specifically, the hearing will explore the transfer of investigative responsibilities from DoD to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including the impact that this shift will have on the ability to investigate and adjudicate security clearances in a thorough yet expeditious manner. In addition, the hearing will examine the strategies employed by DoD and OPM to remove the Personnel Security Clearance Program from the high-risk list.