Security Investigations

State Department Employee Investigation Practices Can Be Improved Gao ID: NSIAD-89-21 November 9, 1988

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of State's procedures for conducting security investigations of its foreign service and civilian personnel.

GAO found that State: (1) generally conducted its preemployment background investigations according to established requirements and procedures; (2) did not complete two-thirds of its investigations within 90 days, but averaged about 140 days; (3) did not reinvestigate about 75 percent of its long-term employees or have a tracking system to identify employees who needed routine investigations; (4) used its investigative resources primarily on suitability reviews to reduce the number of applicants for foreign service positions; and (5) had no plan to eliminate its large overall backlog of reinvestigations. GAO also found that: (1) 70 percent of State employees did not submit the required personal information as part of their security reinvestigations despite repeated requests; (2) State did not take any disciplinary actions against those delinquent employees; and (3) periodic reinvestigations could increase the likelihood of uncovering serious drug, alcohol, financial, or other problems that could make individuals susceptible to compromising national security.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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