Background investigations backlog declines to 386,000 cases

The background investigations backlog is down to 386,000 cases this month, as the Defense Department prepares to take on the federal government background investigations mission.

Charles Phalen, who is serving in a dual role as head of the National Background Investigations Bureau and acting director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, presented on the new figures during a National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee meeting in Washington today.

The backlog famously peaked at 725,000 cases last April. But the total number of investigative cases is down to 386,000, Phalen said today.

"And it's still heading south," he added.

However, the time it takes to complete investigations continues to be a problem, according to Phalen's presentation. The fastest 90% of initial, confidential- or secret-level clearances in industry took an average of 132 days in May, down from the 171-day average in February, but well above the 40-day goal set by law.

The May average for the fastest 90% of initial, top-secret clearance investigations in industry took 319 days, well above the 80-day goal, according to Phalen's presentation. However, the May figure is an improvement from the 435-day average recorded this past December.

"We still have a ways to go on that, but we're seeing some good progress," Phalen said of the timeliness.

Phalen took over as acting director of DCSA earlier this month and is expected to stay on until a permanent director is named. The agency, formerly the Defense Security Service, is absorbing NBIB as part of the background investigations mission transfer from the Office of Personnel Management to DOD.

The transfer is supposed to be finalized on Oct. 1, the start of fiscal year 2020, according to an executive order signed by President Trump in April.

During the meeting today, Phalen said his goal is ensuring the merger of NBIB into DCSA does not disrupt the agency's work in conducting background investigations, protecting critical technology and conducting counterintelligence operations.

"The last thing we want to do is disturb that momentum in any way, shape or form," he said.