**GAO-09-400**                      Published: May 19, 2009. Publicly Released: May 19, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Defense (DOD) personnel security clearance program has been on GAO's high-risk list since 2005, due to delays in the process and incomplete documentation. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducts most of DOD's clearance investigations, which DOD adjudicators use to make clearance decisions. The Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) chairs a Performance Accountability Council that is responsible for reforming the clearance process. Conducted under the authority of the Comptroller General, GAO's report addresses the (1) reporting on timeliness for DOD clearances, (2) documentation completeness for making initial top-secret clearance decisions for DOD personnel, and (3) reporting on the quality of the clearance process. To assess these issues, GAO analyzed data on most DOD clearances granted in fiscal year 2008, randomly sampled and analyzed 100 OPM investigative reports and DOD adjudicative files for clearances granted in July 2008, and analyzed 2006-09 executive branch annual clearance reports.

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## Topics

National Defense

Cost analysisCost controlData integrityDefense capabilitiesDocumentationEligibility determinationsEmployeesExecutive agenciesInvestigations by federal agenciesJudicial remediesPersonnel security clearance programsRecordsRecords managementRegulatory agenciesReporting requirementsReports managementRisk assessmentRisk managementSecurity clearance backlogsSecurity clearance reinvestigationsSecurity clearancesStandardsTransparency