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EO 13467Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13467

Reforming Processes Related to Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information

This executive order reforms and aligns the federal government's processes for determining whether individuals are suitable for government employment, fit for contractor work, or eligible for access to classified information. It establishes a Performance Accountability Council, designates executive agents for suitability (OPM) and security (DNI), mandates reciprocity between agencies, and introduces continuous evaluation for security clearances.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 38103

Impact dates

  1. Council to establish annual goals and progress metrics and prepare annual reports

Key directives

  • Align investigations and adjudications using consistent standards with successive levels building upon but not duplicating lower levels
  • Establish mutual and reciprocal acceptance of background investigations and adjudications across all agencies
  • Create Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council chaired by OMB Deputy Director for Management
  • Designate OPM Director as Suitability Executive Agent
  • Designate DNI as Security Executive Agent with final authority over security clearance investigations and adjudications
  • Implement continuous evaluation for individuals with classified access under standards determined by DNI
  • Reassign Security Policy Board functions to Security Executive Agent
  • Revoke Executive Order 13381
  • Amend Executive Order 12968 to add continuous evaluation and replace Security Policy Board with Security Executive Agent

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Revocation of Executive Order 13381
  • Establishment of Performance Accountability Council
  • Designation of Suitability Executive Agent (OPM Director) and Security Executive Agent (DNI)
  • Amendments to Executive Order 12968 including continuous evaluation authority

Near term (90d)

  • Council to establish annual goals and progress metrics
  • Development of enterprise IT requirements
  • Agency implementation of assigned functions

Long term

  • Full alignment of suitability, security, and contractor fitness processes
  • End-to-end automation of investigation and adjudication systems
  • Reciprocal recognition across all agencies
  • Continuous evaluation implementation for cleared personnel

Risks & tensions

  • No specific calendar deadlines or day-count mandates in text; implementation timeline is open-ended
  • Reciprocity requirement may conflict with agency-specific security needs; exception process requires executive agent approval
  • Privacy protections mentioned but balanced against national security information sharing
  • Dependent on appropriations availability per Section 3(f)
  • Potential tension between OPM and DNI authorities despite alignment mandate
  • Continuous evaluation scope and frequency left to DNI discretion without statutory or procedural constraints specified
Executive Order 13467: Reforming Processes Related to Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information · Executive Orders