Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer today asked Members of Congress to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) produce an updated report regarding the timeliness and quality of the Federal Government's personnel clearance process. The Director noted the progress which has been made since the GAO issued its last report in September 2006.

"Considerable improvement has occurred in the period subsequent to the date of the data used in the field work for that report," Springer said in a letter to the congressional requesters of the initial GAO study.  "I believe that if Congress asked GAO to conduct an update to this review, they would find that substantial progress has been made on issues of concern and that the timeliness and quality of investigations have improved greatly."

Springer said that in light of Congressional concern for compliance with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, a current assessment of both the investigative and adjudicatory components would be welcome at this time. 

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.