A newly released U.S. Government Accountability Office report highlights problems with the reliability of data used to oversee the federal government’s personnel security clearance process, raising concerns about oversight of how quickly and effectively clearances are granted. 

The report last week found that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence lacks accurate and complete clearance data from dozens of federal agencies, limiting its ability to monitor performance and identify problems in the vetting of employees who must access classified information for their positions. 

According to the GAO, over 60% of the clearance data it reviewed was "not reliable" across eight reporting requirements and seven agencies. 

A High-Risk Government Function

The federal personnel security clearance system was placed on GAO’s High-Risk List in 2018 due to chronic delays and information technology problems. The clearance process is designed to vet individuals who must access classified information, and accurate data are critical to ensuring that agencies meet efficiency and security goals. 

ODNI "oversees the efficiency and effectiveness of the process," GAO said.

Significant Errors in Clearance Timeliness

One of the most serious issues identified involved “timeliness” data that agencies report to ODNI. Of the data analyzed, 86% contained inaccuracies, with about one-third off by 20% or more due to inconsistent calculation methods that did not follow ODNI guidance. These errors affected measurements for nearly all clearances completed government-wide, potentially skewing public and congressional reporting on clearance backlogs and delays. 

Agency officials told GAO they revised their calculation methods for data collected beginning in fiscal 2025, but the report noted that much of the data submitted between 2020 and 2024 likely underestimated the true length of the clearance process.

According to GAO, ODNI "reviews data it collects from agencies, but not in a way that aligns with data reliability principles."

GAO found that ODNI has not "issued adequate guidance to agencies for assessing their data" and "addressing these gaps will ensure ODNI and Congress have more reliable data to enable better oversight."

Oversight Gaps and Recommendations

The GAO also found that ODNI’s review of reported data did not align with basic principles of data reliability, and that ODNI has not provided adequate guidance to agencies on assessing the quality of their reports. As a result, Congress and executive leaders lack consistent, trustworthy information on a process that is considered critical to national security. 

To address these problems, GAO made several recommendations aimed at strengthening ODNI’s oversight including:

• Establishing a formal process for evaluating the reliability of agency data.
• Issuing clear guidance on how agencies should assess and report their data.
• Defining accountability roles for senior data officials within agencies.
• Updating personnel vetting policy frameworks to align with best practices for evidence-based oversight. 

ODNI did not explicitly agree or disagree with the recommendations but raised concerns that GAO addressed in the report.