Friday, April 28, 2006
Feeling safer yet?
In another burst of budget delight, the Defense Security Service has halted processing security clearances for the many contractors that it uses for much of its intelligence work. As many as 3000 positions will go unfilled because the Pentagon can't afford the investigations.
So we have lots more contractors because of the Republican driven privatization of government but we can't afford to give them security clearences because of the Republican budget cutting. Feeling safer yet?
The demand for security clearances among private companies has grown dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as the government increasingly relies on contractors to do intelligence gathering and work on classified programs. There has been growing frustration with the wait time, which some companies have described as up to a year, to obtain clearances for new employees. Some firms have reverted to gimmicks and large bonuses to attract employees with pre-existing clearances, and industry officials worry that this week's action will increase competition and salary demands.But they still have money for the Osprey project.
The move affects not only defense contractors, but also those who work on projects for more than 20 other agencies, including NASA and the Department of Homeland Security.....
....The Defense Security Service blames, in part, the sheer volume of requests. Between October and March, more than 100,000 security-clearance applications were submitted.
The service is also struggling with a budget shortfall, McGovern said, noting that its funding was cut by $20 million this year. McGovern said she did not know how much of a shortfall the agency faces.
So we have lots more contractors because of the Republican driven privatization of government but we can't afford to give them security clearences because of the Republican budget cutting. Feeling safer yet?
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
Post a Comment