Reforming Processes Related to Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information
Reforms Suitability and Clearance Rules for Federal Workers and Contractors
What it does
Agencies must align and mutually accept background investigations and eligibility decisions, implement continuous evaluation, and follow guidance from designated Executive Agents and a new accountability council.
Real-world impact
- Requires agencies to accept other agencies' background checks and eligibility determinations.
- Creates a council and assigns centralized officials to oversee suitability and clearances.
- Introduces continuous evaluation—ongoing checks of individuals with classified access.
Topics
Summary
This order directs the executive branch to align and standardize how it conducts background checks, determines suitability for government jobs, evaluates contractor employees, and grants access to classified information, federal facilities, and information systems.
It creates a new Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council, designates the Director of the Office of Personnel Management as the Suitability Executive Agent and the Director of National Intelligence as the Security Executive Agent, requires reciprocal acceptance of investigations, and establishes continuous evaluation for cleared individuals.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”