Security clearances

The commander of the nation’s top cyber security agencies — the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command — will not confirm that he has recommended the two agencies split from one another next year.

The backlog of pending security clearances and other matters at the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) is down more than 25 percent from its record-high nearly a year ago. The backlog today stands at 541,000 investigations, NBIB Director Charlie Phalen said.

The Defense Information Systems Agency announced plans to transfer a few dozen employees within the National Background Investigations System office, as well as employees within DoD’s Consolidated Adjudications Facility, to the Defense Security Service.

Leadership within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Office of Personnel Management have agreed to a broad framework that’s designed to reimagine the entire suitability, credentialing and security clearance process. New policies will be rolled out over the course of 2019.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the U.S. Postal Service is asking industry for an autonomous vehicle that can follow a route while a mail carrier is able to sort the mail for delivery.

In today’s Federal Newscast, an internal email to staff at the National Park Service explained the effect the partial government shutdown had on the agency.

In today’s Federal Newscast, agency leaders are being asked to provide a list of what programs will be effected if the current partial government shutdown goes into March and April.

An FBI Agent advocacy organization warned in a report that the shutdown is causing financial insecurity among agents, which may endanger their security clearances. At least one lawmaker has expressed similar concerns.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Postal Service’s inspector general said USPS has more than a million square feet in excess real estate.

In today’s Federal Newscast, citing the cost of defending himself against “false” allegations, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he will be stepping down.