Security clearance reform is back in the news. Congressional testimony and proposed legislation is drawing attention to the problems with the security clearance process, including a backlog of pending cases which reached 725,000. But there is another number that is much smaller, but much more significant for those awaiting a security clearance determination.
Security clearance processing times for Defense Department contractors have reached a new high—534 days. That means if you apply for a DoD clearance today, you may need to wait more than a year and a half before you receive a final determination. And that’s just the fastest 90 percent of cases. Many applicants report waiting two to three years to receive a security clearance, and their chance at a national security job.
