The bill calls on the Director of National Intelligence to issue guidance for departments and agencies – within 180 days of enactment – to determine whether the occupant of a position requires a security clearance for the performance of the duties of such position.
That guidance also would require agencies to periodically review and, if necessary, revise the designation of a position as requiring a security clearance for the performance of the duties of such position.
Under the legislation the DNI would have discretion for specifying how agencies would have to implement the guidance – and if and when a government employee or contractor is found to have falsified a background check, they would be terminated or debarred.
The bill also empowers OPM to use funding from its revolving fund to audit and investigate contractors that conduct background checks.
