Security Clearance Background Checks: Senators question oversight plans for creation of new agency NBIB

the letter. “We also want to ensure that the [National Background Investigations Bureau] will not simply be a new name for the [Federal Investigative Service]. Instead, it is critical that you make significant structural changes to improve the integrity, management, and oversight of the security clearance process.” The letter follows McCaskill’s recent introduction of legislation to give the Pentagon’s top watchdog the authority to conduct oversight of the newly-created National Background Investigation Bureau. Following the systemic problems with the security clearance background check process highlighted by security leaks from contractor Edward Snowden and the tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, McCaskill revealed that USIS – the company responsible for conducting the background investigations for both Snowden and Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis – was under criminal investigation. McCaskill questioned the fact that USIS had two separate contracts with the federal government – one to conduct background investigations and another to oversee the quality of background investigations conducted by contractors, including USIS itself. Shortly after, the federal government stopped allowing private contractors to oversee their own work in security clearance background checks.]]>