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Responses to 1977 Report "Proposals To Resolve Long-Standing Problems in Investigations of Federal Employees"

B-132376 Published: Jun 09, 1978. Publicly Released: Jun 09, 1978.
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Highlights

GAO issued a December 16, 1977, report, "Proposals to Resolve Longstanding Problems in Investigations of Federal Employees" (FPCD-77-64) and discussed the Federal program for investigating the suitability of Federal employees, its problems and the actions needed. The Civil Service Commission was primarily responsible for conducting the investigations. GAO's recommendations in the report, when implemented, would establish a sound statutory base for the investigations; provide a means to identify and adequately investigate persons in positions with sensitive duties, and greatly reduce the investigation, potential for invasion of privacy, and collection, use and dissemination of information for the vast majority of Government employees.

GAO obtained formal comments on the report from the Commission and the Department of Justice. Their comments and GAO's position were discussed in the original report. After the report was issued, the Department of Defense provided comments that generally agreed with GAO's position. DOD was heavily involved in personnel investigations, and it used the Commission's investigations for its civilian employees.

On February 16, 1978, the Commission advised Congress of their proposed corrective actions, as required by Section 236 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970. The Commission agreed with the findings and principles recommended in GAO's report, and some of the actions taken by it appeared adequate. Other proposed actions remained inadequate and did not solve several of the critical issues GAO identified in its report. GAO's reasons why they believed some of the Commission's proposed actions were inadequate are within this document.

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Federal employeesGovernment employeesInvestigations into federal agenciesPerformance appraisalRight of privacyCriminal investigationsLegislationPersonnel securityPrivacySecurity investigations