Summary

The Defense Department (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), and other agencies have developed their own requirements for conducting background investigations and granting security clearances. As a result, clearances are not routinely accepted among agencies, and duplicative investigations may occur. The 1991 National Defense Authorization Act requires DOD and DOE to avoid duplicative background investigations on employees seeking security clearances. Both agencies are major users of background investigations, together budgeting nearly $200 million in fiscal year 1991 for background investigations of their employees. This report examines (1) DOD and DOE efforts to eliminate duplication by automating the exchange of investigative data and (2) DOD's and DOE's participation in interagency efforts to eliminate duplication by standardizing the security clearance process.

GAO found that: (1) DOE and DOD have improved controls to eliminate duplicative background investigations and continued to integrate investigative and clearance databases, but, data reliability problems persist due to a lack of system testing, standardized exchange procedures, and duplicative field office systems; (2) DOE and DOD could realize a savings of $130,000 annually if complete database integration occurs; and (3) although DOE and DOD efforts to address the lack of clearance reciprocity have included participation in the National Industrial Security Program, which is designed to implement single-scope background investigations and standardize federal security requirements, achievement of uniform security requirements could be difficult due to individual agency security requirements and changing historical nonuniform practices.