Title VI—Security Clearances

in the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2019

This title indicates the national urgency of reforming the security

clearance process as it bears on government and contract personnel
alike; implements specific reforms; and requires more direct
accountability from the executive branch on improvements.

These provisions build on the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism

Prevention Act of 2004 and subsequent IAAs.

601. Definitions. Defines key terms used in the Title.

602. Reports and Plans Relating to Security Clearances and

Background Investigations
 Requires the OMB-led interagency Performance Accountability
Council (PAC) provide plans to (1) reduce the background
investigation inventory to 200,000 by the end of 2019 (today it’s over
700,000), and (2) consolidate the background investigation function
between the National Background Investigation Bureau and the
Department of Defense (this is the Administration plan).
 Requires the Council to provide a report on the desired future of the
clearance process to reflect current threats, the mobile workforce, and
modern technologies

603. Improving the Process for Security Clearances

 Requires the DNI as the government’s Security Executive Agent to
reexamine the SF-86 questionnaire and the adjudicative standards; to
expand innovative technique for investigative interviews; and employ
continuous evaluation to displace the need for time-based periodic
reinvestigations; and
 Requires policies on interim clearances; consistent treatment
between government and contract employees; and use of automated
records checks from previous employers.

604. Goals for Security Clearances. Requires the interagency

Performance Accountability Council lead implementation to meet goals
that:
 90 percent of SECRET clearances be processed within 30 days,

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  90 percent of TOP SECRET clearances be processed within 90 days,
 90 percent of determinations regarding reciprocity made within 2
weeks.
 90 percent of clearance holders not need reinvestigations on a preset
periodicity (e.g., 5-years).

605. Security Executive Agent (SecEA). Codifies the SecEA position,

retaining an independent arbiter of standards.

606. Report on Tiers for Positions of Trust. Directs a report from DNI
and OPM on the advisability and implications of reducing the number of
“tiers” clearances from five (5) to three (3).

607. Report on Clearance in Person Concept [BAG18839]. Directs

the DNI provide a report on the concept of a clearance resting with the
person, not the agency, enabling mobility across agency, contractor, and
contract. (Accepted in the NDAA.)

608. Costs of Clearances. Requires the President’s budget request

include data for all agencies on the costs of the current security clearance
process.

609. Reciprocity inside Agencies. Requires agencies to report on the

number of individuals for whom it takes more than 2 weeks to cross over
their clearances when they are moving jobs or contracts within the same
agency or department.

610. Intelligence Community Reports on Security Clearances.

Requires reports to track clearances inside the IC.

611. Positions Not Requiring a Clearance. Requires a report on IC

positions that can be performed without clearance to reduce the

One more provision will be included in the Managers’ Package: creation of

an information sharing program between and among agencies and
industry so bad apples aren’t passed around.