The summary said the president would designate “a
single entity to oversee the security clearance process
and develop uniform standards and policies for access
to classified information,” and that the entity would
also conduct investigations — but that other agencies
could be used if needed.
The act requires reciprocity for personnel at the same
level of clearance, and lays the groundwork for a
national database to track clearances, said the summary.
It also said the head of the agency designated to handle
the security clearance process would be required to
consult with Congress and adjudicative agencies to develop
a plan within five years to shorten the clearance process
considerably.
The Department of Defense recently transferred 1,800 Defense
Security Service personnel to the Office of Personnel
Management, more than doubling the size of that agency and
centralizing much of the security clearance process there.
