DISCO Inferno: DSS Won’t Process Security Clearances
In the security policy equivalent of shutting down the government, the Defense Security Service announced Friday that it would no longer process applications from industry for new security clearances or reinvestigations of existing clearances.
“Owing to the overwhelming volume of requests for industry personnel security investigations and funding constraints, the Defense Security Service has discontinued accepting industry requests for new personnel security clearances and periodic reinvestigations effective immediately and until further notice,” DSS said in an “urgent notice” sent to cleared contractor organizations on April 28.
“The Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office [DISCO] will reject any requests that are submitted.”
There are an estimated 800,000 defense industry personnel that hold security clearances, and a steadily growing demand for more.
Three thousand new applications for security clearances have already been put on hold, the Washington Post reported on April 29.
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