State Department

Security Issues Related to Selected Employees Gao ID: NSIAD-89-86 December 28, 1988

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) the appropriateness of the Department of State's use of foreign national employees to conduct security-related investigations at U.S. missions overseas; and (2) personnel security at State's diplomatic courier center.

GAO found that State: (1) regularly used foreign investigators to assist regional security officers in conducting background investigations of foreign national employees in order to cut costs and ensure continuity; (2) believes that foreign investigators are better able to obtain needed information because of their ability to deal with local officials, analyze local records, and understand languages and local customs; (3) has had difficulties in obtaining and retaining cleared personnel to work in the mail room; and (4) restricted uncleared personnel from classified operations and instituted some initiatives to improve security in its mail operation and minimize the impact of failed security reviews.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.