Civilian Intel Contractors

Senate lawmakers today released a Government Accountability Office report citing problems with how the intelligence community uses its civilian contractors.

The Jan. 29 report, an unclassified version of one completed last September, states:

Limitations in the intelligence community's (IC) inventory of contract personnel hinder the ability to determine the extent to which the eight civilian IC elements -- the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and six components within the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and the Treasury -- use these personnel.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-OK), financial contracting and oversight subcommittee Chairwoman Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI), as well as Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), released the report.

In a statement, the senators said:

"The men and women who work at our nation's intelligence agencies, whether federal employee or contractor, are entrusted with analyzing and protecting our most sensitive information," said Chairman Carper. "Given the nature of their work and all that’s at stake, it's critical that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is able to account for core intelligence contractors and provide that information to Congress so we know exactly who is managing our nation's secrets and why. I am troubled that today's Government Accountability Office (GAO) report suggests that the reporting standards set by ODNI are not consistent across the intelligence community and are not effective at providing accurate information on the civilian intelligence community contractors. ODNI needs to review its policies and make the necessary changes to ensure that it can account for its use of all contractors. I will work closely with my colleagues here in Congress and members of the intelligence community to ensure that these important reforms are made in a thoughtful and timely manner."

"In the wake Edward Snowden's damaging leaks of classified information, the intelligence community must demonstrate that it can rigorously vet, hire, manage, and oversee the contractor workforce it relies upon to help perform its mission," Senator Collins said. "Without reliable data on the number and type of contractors or the expenses associated with them, we cannot effectively determine the appropriate mix of government employees and contractors in the intelligence community, which is essential not only to protecting our national security, but also in ensuring the efficient use of taxpayers' dollars."

"The lack of reliable data and long-term planning for core support contractors among our intelligence agencies has led to critical gaps in our capabilities and an overreliance on these contractors," said Sen. McCaskill, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight. "This is a likely waste of taxpayer dollars and may be detrimental to our national security."