Clearance backlog threatens national security

By MICHAEL JAMES BARTON

Contributor

Right now, more than 500,000 federal employees and government contractors are awaiting security clearances.

That poses a serious threat. The enormous backlog of clearance applications prevents talented analysts, engineers, and coders from working on today’s most critical national security challenges. Some applicants wait more than 350 days before starting their jobs. Unsurprisingly, many highly qualified and badly needed security officials take other employment due to the unreasonable delay.

The high-stakes waiting game leaves our nation needlessly short-han...