Background Check Backlog Leads to Challenges for Government Job-Seekers
The federal government is facing a vast backlog of people seeking security clearances, as more than 700,000 applicants are waiting on background checks. According to The Washington Post, as of March, the process for a top secret security clearance took more than 450 days to conclude, a federal official reported in May – more than a half-year longer than it took in April 2016.
As the backlog mounts, the Office of Personnel Management stopped reporting on the numbers of people waiting for approval. OPM is currently without a permanent director after George Nesterczuk – who President Trump had nominated to lead the effort – withdrew his name from consideration, the Post reports.