President Orders Reciprocity on Security Clearances President Bush has ordered all federal agencies to recognize security clearances granted by other agencies as part of an effort to streamline the clearance process. In a June 30 executive order, the president directed that, with narrow exceptions, “background investigations and adjudications shall be mutually and reciprocally accepted by all agencies.” “An agency may not establish additional investigative or adjudicative requirements ... that exceed the requirements for suitability, contractor employee fitness, eligibility for logical or physical access, eligibility to hold a sensitive position, or eligibility for access to classified information,” the order says. The order implements recommendations of an interagency team that proposed using IT solutions to speed the processing of clearances. It calls for “end-to-end automation” of the process. The interagency team recommended development of an automated records check that would collect an applicant’s background information from government and commercial databases. The system would continuously monitor cleared employees’ records to track any changes in their status. The team said technology could replace some of the field investigations that are the time-consuming backbone of the clearance process. The team’s report did not address the cost of the recommended changes. (SAA, 5/16) Contractors and agencies have complained of long waits for approval of clearances, especially since the 9/11 attacks led to a dramatic increase in the number of positions requiring clearances. While administration officials have cited progress in reducing the backlogs and wait times, a survey by two industry groups earlier this year found most contractors were waiting six to nine months for new clearances. The president’s order creates a Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council to manage the clearance process. Clay Johnson, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, will chair the council.