Trump administration official granted top-secret clearance despite incomplete background check questioned by senior Democratic official
In the early days of President Trump's administration, a series of actions regarding security clearances for White House staff members sparked controversy and raised concerns about national security.
On his first day in office, President Trump issued a memo directing the White House counsel to grant for up to six months top secret / sensitive compartmented information security clearances to designated personnel. This move bypassed the traditional background check process, with investigations for these clearances being delayed until February 12, 2023, due to administrative and procedural backlogs.
Trump defended this action, stating that the security clearance process was 'broken.' However, Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., argued that forgoing background checks poses a major risk to national security. Connolly also called for the Trump administration to provide a list of White House employees receiving temporary Top Secret security clearance without complete vetting.
One of the individuals who received interim clearances was Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner. Reports emerged that Trump overruled intelligence agencies' recommendations on Kushner's security clearance, leading to concerns among Congressional Democrats.
In response to these concerns, Reps. Don Beyer and Ted Lieu introduced the Security Clearance Review Act. This bill would direct the FBI to make the final determination on EOP appointee security clearances. However, no action was taken on the Security Clearance Review Act.
Trump was also reportedly considering using a private firm for screening potential appointees instead of the FBI. This move, if implemented, would have further complicated the social security process and potentially compromised national security.
The issue of security clearances for White House staff was not the only concern surrounding the modernization of the background check system. The Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative, aimed at modernizing the system for federal employees, has been marked by costly, years-long delays.
In an attempt to address these delays, the Defense Department approved a three-year plan for the implementation of the IT system for Trusted Workforce 2.0. However, the initiative has faced criticism for its potential to compromise security, as it could allow for the granting of temporary clearances without thorough vetting.
In a letter to White House counsel, David Warrington, Connolly requested, by Feb. 12, the names of employees who receive clearances pursuant to the memo, and additional information. As the deadline approaches, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will comply with this request, shedding light on the extent of temporary clearances granted during the administration.
In conclusion, the security clearance process during President Trump's administration has been fraught with controversy and concerns about national security. With the passing of the deadline for the completion of background checks for interim clearances, the public awaits further information on the individuals who have been granted temporary access to sensitive information.
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