The INSIDER daily digest -- April 24, 2020

By John Liang / April 24, 2020 at 2:17 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Defense Department's security clearance process as well as efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.

We start off with coverage of the Pentagon's security clearance process:

GAO finds feds are making progress in reforming 'high-risk' security clearance process

Federal agencies have mostly followed key practices as they reform the "high-risk" security clearance process, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Document: GAO report on government reforms


Pentagon reprograms $200 million for background checks

The Pentagon earlier this year shifted $200 million in working capital funds to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency to ensure the organization has "a sufficient operating cash balance" in its first year of conducting security clearance investigations for the entire federal government.

Document: DOD background check reprogramming action


The COVID-19 pandemic is being monitored by a Defense Department hypersonics "war room":

Hypersonics 'war room' monitoring COVID-19 impact on supply chain

The Pentagon's hypersonics "war room" is closely tracking how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the supply chain, especially smaller companies that make key components supporting the technology, according to a senior defense official.

In case you missed it, the Pentagon's No. 2 civilian spoke this week about how the Defense Department is handling the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while executing the National Defense Strategy:

DOD force structure analysis continues amid COVID-19 disruptions

Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist said today the Pentagon continues to conduct analysis and war games pertaining to its execution of the National Defense Strategy, including an assessment of Navy force structure, despite challenges posed by COVID-19.

The Navy officer who oversees aircraft carriers also touched on the effects of COVID-19 on the service's newest warship:

Aircraft carrier boss: No 'near-term impact' on Ford due to COVID-19

The Navy admiral overseeing its aircraft carriers said the global COVID-19 outbreak is not having an immediate effect on the lead ship in its new class of flattops.

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