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The overall audit objective was to review the program management of the acquisition of the Defense Security Service Case Control Management System and the actions being taken to correct problems in its development and deployment. In addition, we evaluated the management control program related to the objective. See Appendix A for a discussion of the audit scope and methodology and the review of the management control program.

We are pleased to be here today to discuss our recent evaluation of the Department of Defense's (DOD) backlog of overdue personnel security reinvestigations. This evaluation was conducted at the request of the Subcommittee Chairman, who was concerned about the size of the backlog. In January 2000, DOD estimated that the backlog had grown to over 505,000, or about one out of every five individuals with a security clearance. However, DOD has also reported that it does not know the actual backlog size because existing personnel security databases cannot provide an accurate count of overdue reinvestigations., Testimony Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives.

The Department of Defense uses a two-part process to determine whether an individual should be granted a security clearance. The first phase is the personnel security investigation, in which Defense Security Service investigators corroborate information provided by the applicant, interview character references, and review federal and local records for financial vulnerabilities and criminal activity. The second phase is the adjudication, which is conducted by eight DOD components. Adjudicators weigh favorable and unfavorable information with regard to a number of factors (such as the nature, extent, and seriousness of any conduct). If, on balance, the evidence suggests the individual is a good security risk, the clearance can be granted., Testimony before the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate.

The personnel security investigation is a critical step toward ensuring that individuals can be trusted to protect classified information. In granting a security clearance, DOD determines that the person's loyalty to the United States, character; trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and judgment are such that the person can be expected to comply with government policy and procedures for safeguarding classified information., Report to the Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives.

The downsizing of the Department of Defense has caused increasingly greater scrutiny to be placed on the costs of the personnel security system. One of the large expenses in this system is the cost of conducting personnel security background investigations. There is a need for more accurate data concerning the costs of investigations. PERSEREC in this study has examined the costs of conducting different types of personnel security investigations by the Defense Investigative Service (DIS). A methodology was developed for more accurately estimating DIS investigative costs. This methodology was applied to data for FY92 and FY93 and cost estimates were generated for investigation types such as the Single Scope Background Investigation, the Top Secret Periodic Reinvestigation, the Expanded National Agency Check, etc.

The study was undertaken to develop a computer-administered security screening questionnaire for use with applicants to sensitive Navy ratings. A system as designed (Military Applicant Security Screening) and tested and evaluated at nine Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS). Data is presented concerning the amount of potentially derogatory information disclosed to the questionnaire and the reactions of Navy classifiers who administered the system. Based on the favorable findings of the study the Navy approved the system for implementation at all the MEPS., Personally Identifiable Information (PII) was redacted.