DoD lacks standards for hiring foreign nationals, GAO says
By ELISE CASTELLI
July 31, 2009
The Defense Department lacks departmentwide screening standards for foreign nationals working for private security contractors, putting the government at risk of hiring criminals or otherwise unqualified workers, the Government Accountability Office has found.
Defense was ordered to establish departmentwide standards under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 but has been hindered by bureaucratic wrangling and a lack of leadership, GAO said in a report released July 31.
At issue: DoD’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence wants foreign nationals to undergo the same screening used for U.S. citizens, but the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics believes that process isn’t feasible because of the varying quality of foreign criminal and employment records. In addition, acquisition office officials believe those standards will limit the number of foreign national contractor personnel DoD can use. Defense needs, but does not have, a point person to resolve the dispute, GAO said.
Further, draft guidance to meet the screening requirements falls short in that it doesn’t set a Defense-wide standard for background screenings. Rather, it lets combatant commanders establish standards for their own areas of responsibility.

GAO recommended Defense Secretary Robert Gates assign a point person to establish departmentwide standards as soon as possible. DoD concurred.
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