Management

Trusted Workforce is the kind of bipartisan, broad government reform we need

COMMENTARY | Creating better, more agile processes for onboarding federal workers, is an example of the kind of reform that’s difficult, but not impossible when government agencies and the executive and legislative branches work together, writes one observer.

Management

High crimes and mental competency don’t keep presidents from security clearances because, they don’t get them

COMMENTARY | Even more important than the president when it comes to protecting classified information are those national security professionals with the jobs of ensuring it is briefed, stored, and shared properly, writes one security clearance expert.

Workforce

Honesty is always the best policy, but it isn’t a silver bullet for security clearances

COMMENTARY | Candor isn’t helping the growing number of security clearance holders and applicants with drug use issues.

Workforce

National Security compensation set a record high in 2023

COMMENTARY | The uptick in cleared compensation is good news for the national security workforce and also a good thing for national security.

Pay & Benefits

How diverse candidates can better navigate the security clearance process

COMMENTARY | Simple steps can make the security clearance process less of a barrier to keeping diverse candidates out of government careers.

Workforce

Elon Musk and why you should never compare when it comes to security clearances

COMMENTARY | The government looks holistically at the benefits and risks to national security with each clearance granted.

Workforce

Could ketamine use cause problems for your security clearance eligibility?

COMMENTARY | When it comes to drug treatments, there’s one key to staying on the right side of a security clearance adjudication.

Workforce

Catastrophic leaks and wild reforms mark the 2023 security clearance year in review

COMMENTARY | The Discord leaks helped put a starker spotlight on the security clearance process, bringing more scrutiny at a time when demand for cleared personnel has intensified and processing times have swelled.

Management

Continuous vetting identifies risks earlier, and is getting ready to roll out across government

COMMENTARY | If there is an issue that could be flagged, federal employees should report it now, and get help, an expert says.

Management

A government shutdown is a catalyst event that can increase the possibility of insider threat incidents

COMMENTARY | As another government shutdown looms it’s a reminder that risks happen when you’re least prepared, writes one observer.

Workforce

National security needs ‘whole people,’ not perfect people

COMMENTARY | The whole person concept is one of the most critical elements of the security clearance process, and one of the most vitally important ones to improving communication around mental health and wellness, writes one observer.

Defense

Leading the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency may be a job no one wants – but it’s an important one

COMMENTARY | “It’s vitally important that the Defense Department onboard the right person for the job, to continue to keep the workforce stabilized and growing,” writes one observer.

Workforce

Congress Doesn’t Know How to Count the Number of National Security Professionals and That’s a Problem

Instead of addressing data security or IT policies around protecting classified information, Congress goes after numbers.

Management

Say Good-bye to the Security Clearance Status Quo

New reporting benchmarks and aggressive clearance processing timelines are some of the reforms underway.

Workforce

National Security Compensation Sees a Significant Increase

With the economy under pressure from rising costs, people with active federal security clearances are pushing for higher compensation.

Workforce

‘Tis the Season: Holiday Hang-Ups That Can Hurt Your Cleared Career

Gone are the days when you could get a little too merry and hope your employer would never know.

Workforce

Social Media Monitoring in the Security Clearance Process

What – if anything – is the government considering in an online search of security clearance applicants?

Workforce

The Senate Intelligence Authorization Bill Gives Hints to 2023’s Security Clearance Policy Priorities

There are a few issues highlighted in the bill that are of particular relevance to the government workforce.

Workforce

Dropping the Price Point for Doing Background Investigations May Help Improve Vetting

Reducing costs and improving investigation quality has been a key goal of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.