Joint Suitability and Security Clearance Reform Team

The Joint Suitability and Security Clearance Reform Team (Joint Reform Team) is comprised of representatives from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and is hosted by the Director of National Intelligence/Special Security Center (DNI/SSC).

In a memorandum dated February 5, 2008, the President requested that the Joint Reform Team provide an initial reform proposal on security clearance and suitability determinations. The goal of the proposal was to achieve government-wide improvement and streamlining of the processes for determining eligibility for access to classified information, suitability for Federal employment, and eligibility to work on a Federal contract, as well as granting access to Federally controlled facilities and information systems.

In response to the President's request, the Joint Reform Team collaborated on and submitted a Security and Suitability Process Reform Initial Report which outlines specific actions to achieve the President's goals. The report recommends primary and subordinate actions to further improve hiring and clearing processes, and proposes a new Executive Branch governance structure to ensure these processes are effectively coordinated.

Executive Order 13467, signed June 30, 2008, establishes this new governance structure by creating a Performance Accountability Council to ensure the alignment of suitability and security processes and to sustain reform momentum. Additionally, the Executive Order designates a Suitability Executive Agent and a Security Executive Agent, and grants authorities to Director of National Intelligence as the Security Executive Agent. Accordingly, the DNI has oversight authority for investigations and determinations of eligibility to classified information.

The Joint Reform Team will deliver, not later than December 2008, a detailed plan for achieving high-assurance hiring and clearing processes that are faster, more efficient, and less costly than current practices.