re: #5 Joanne

It’s not the number of people with clearances, its that they are private contractors whose allegiances are unknown. Intelligence work should be in-house with layers to watch for actions like this Snowden by people who are fully aligned with the US and our intelligence needs.

How many contractors? How many companies? What are each’s controls?

I might even go for one or two firms under exceptionally strict controls. Right now, it’s far too disparate.

I think it makes sense for the Feds to directly handle the investigations for security clearances etc. If the same standards for getting cleared, physical security etc. are applied to contractors and to government agencies equally, there shouldn’t be a problem, to first order.

One thing I’ve seen in the reporting that, if true, I think should be changed, is that apparently the clearance investigations can be done by private outfits.