Review of the Security and Emergency Planning Staff's Management of Background Investigations

Evaluation and Inspections Report I-2005-010
September 2005
Office of the Inspector General

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND General Requirements for Background Investigations SEPS’s Organization SEPS’s Direct Responsibilities Related to Background Investigations SEPS’s Responsibilities for Policy Guidance Authorities Delegated by SEPS to the Components SEPS’s Oversight of Components With Delegated Authority Recent Developments and Impending Changes in Background Investigations PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY OF OIG REVIEW Purpose of the OIG Review Scope Methodology RESULTS OF THE REVIEW Workload and Priorities Adjudication Timeliness Policy Guidance SEPS’s Oversight of Components With Delegated Authority The Department’s Resource Requests for SEPS SEPS’s File Tracking System No Centralized Background Investigation Database Timeliness Requirements of the Intelligence Reform Act Requirements of HSPD-12 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDICES: Components With Delegated Authority SEPS’s Organization The Justice Management Division’s Response The OIG’s Analysis Of JMD’s Response