The committee acknowledged the appointment of a new DCSA director, David Catler, who has expressed commitment to addressing the issues with the NBIS and improving transparency and accountability. The GAO expressed encouragement about the new leadership.

While developing the NBIS, DoD has had to continue maintaining the legacy systems at a cost of over $800 million from 2020 through 2022. This highlights the significant costs associated with maintaining aging systems while waiting for a new system to be completed.

The GAO found that DoD lacked a reliable schedule and cost estimate for the NBIS, which raises concerns about the accuracy of future projections and the potential for continued delays and cost overruns.

The committee expressed concern over the cybersecurity of both the new and legacy systems, given the 2015 OPM breach that compromised personal data of millions of individuals. The GAO released a report outlining 13 recommendations for DoD to enhance cybersecurity for these systems.

The committee discussed the implementation of continuous vetting, a key component of the Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative. While all individuals with security clearances are enrolled, the process is not fully implemented for all of them, raising concerns about potential vulnerabilities.

The committee questioned how continuous vetting is prioritized for individuals with security clearances. The witnesses explained that the prioritization is based on factors like clearance duration and the nature of the position held.

The committee raised questions about how DCSA is addressing the causes of past problems with the NBIS. Catler highlighted internal reviews, leadership changes, training initiatives, and a renewed focus on program management principles.

The NBIS system, designed to be a one-stop shop for personnel vetting, has been plagued with delays and cost overruns. The initial 2019 deadline was missed, and the system remains under development. Over $1.3 billion has been spent on the system, with an estimated $700 million more needed through 2027.

The committee raised concerns about the potential for racial bias in the security clearance process and its impact on representation of minority individuals in the national security workforce. The committee discussed a study by Rand Corporation that highlighted potential societal factors affecting minorities.

Catler explained that DCSA works with the Director of National Intelligence on adjudication guidelines and reviews clearance decisions to identify and address any bias. DCSA also provides bias training to its adjudicators.

The committee emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. Catler committed to providing regular updates to the committee, conducting independent assessments of security clearance applications to identify potential biases, and making the findings public.

A member of the committee raised concerns about the No Fly List, arguing that it unfairly targets American Muslims and lacks sufficient legal recourse for individuals who may be wrongfully included.

The committee member called for the FBI to be brought before the committee to address concerns about the No Fly List, highlighting the potential for misuse and its impact on American citizens.