Background Checks Raise Privacy Concerns New background investigations of federal employees and contractors are raising objections from a union representing federal workers. As part of the changeover to a governmentwide “smart” identification card, background investigations will be conducted on all contractor personnel who have access to federal buildings or computers, as well as all federal employees. The National Federation of Federal Employees has raised questions about the investigations. The Washington Post reported employees are worried that their bosses will learn about their financial problems or such issues as unpaid parking tickets and restraining orders issued in divorce proceedings. Charles Paidock, a vice president in the union’s Chicago office, told the Post he wonders whether “innocent careers [are] going to be damaged.” Kathy Dillaman, who supervises the Office of Personnel Management’s background investigations, said information gathered on contractor personnel will not be shared with their employers. But if an investigation turns up adverse information, the contractors could be denied access to federal facilities. The new ID card, ordered by President Bush after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is being phased in at all agencies between now and late 2008. For the first time, background investigations will be conducted on all contractor personnel at federal installations, not just those with access to classified information. Contractor employees will be required to provide fingerprints, financial information and other personal data to be verified by investigators. Four scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the investigations pose “severe threats to the privacy rights” of government employees and contractors. They aired their objections in letters to NASA and members of Congress, the Post reported.