Tester Pushes for Answers on Flawed Security Process

Senator Jon Tester today pushed for the completion of a multi-agency review that will improve security clearance background investigations and protect our nation from insider threats.

Tester met with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Beth Cobert in advance of her nomination hearing to become the permanent OPM Director. Tester asked Cobert about the status of the overdue 90-day review that was commissioned last year to strengthen the security clearance process.

“We must be able to say with full confidence that the folks receiving security clearances will keep our nation secure, and right now we can’t say that,” Tester said.  “The results of this review will lay the groundwork for strengthening our seriously flawed background investigation process and help Congress reform the system to prevent potential insider threats.”

Last July, Tester called on the OPM Inspector General to further investigate the potential security vulnerabilities of a critical OPM data system that houses personal background investigation information.  These efforts helped spark a 90-day review of the federal security clearance process. The 90-day review commenced last July.