Page 1 Federal Workforce GAO-25-107325
May 9, 2025
Congressional Committees
Federal Workforce: Observations on the Implementation of the Trusted Workforce 2.0
Personnel Vetting Reform Initiative
Personnel vetting processes help ensure the trustworthiness of the federal government’s
workforce which, among other things, helps prevent unauthorized disclosure of classified
information to foreign intelligence services or other actors. Personnel vetting processes provide
a method to determine whether personnel are and remain over time (1) eligible to access
classified information or to hold a sensitive position; (2) suitable or fit for government
employment or to serve as contractor employees; or (3) eligible to access agency systems or
facilities.
In 2018, the Security, Suitability, and Credentialing Performance Accountability Council (PAC)
launched the Trusted Workforce 2.0 (TW 2.0) reform initiative.
1
Officials designed TW 2.0’s
suite of reforms to streamline government-wide personnel vetting and address problems, such
as lengthy background investigations, persistent backlogs, inconsistent practices across
agencies, and information security concerns. Compounded, these delays and other problems
within the personnel vetting process can negatively affect the ability of federal agencies and
contractors to onboard new personnel, manage risk, and achieve their objectives.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 includes a provision for us to
survey a sample of federal agencies, federal contractors, and other persons that require security
clearances to access classified information to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the
implementation of TW 2.0 and the effectiveness of vetting federal personnel while managing risk
during the onboarding of new personnel.
2
In addition, the act includes a provision that we
conduct such surveys once every 2 years through 2029. This report describes (1) the status of
federal agencies’ implementation of TW 2.0 to vet personnel and contractors for suitability,
fitness, credentialing, and eligibility to access classified information; (2) the experiences of
federal agencies with implementing TW 2.0, including any benefits, challenges, and effects on
managing risk while onboarding personnel; and (3) the experiences of federal contractors with
implementing TW 2.0, including any benefits, challenges, and effects on managing risk while
onboarding personnel. On December 11, 2024, we briefed members of your staff on the
1
The Security, Suitability, and Credentialing Performance Accountability Council is the government-wide entity
responsible for driving the implementation of reforms to the personnel vetting processes. The PAC has four principal
members: the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget; the Director of National
Intelligence, who is the Security Executive Agent; the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, who is the
Suitability and Credentialing Executive Agent; and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. See
Exec. Order No. 13,467, Reforming Processes Related to Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for
Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information, § 2.4(b), as amended
through Exec. Order No. 13,869, 84 Fed. Reg. 18,125 (Apr. 24, 2019).
2
Pub. L. No. 118-31, Div. G, § 7704 (2023).
