U.S. Agency Shuts Down Its Data System

A $100-million computer system installed two years ago by the Defense Security Service has been shut down for more than a week, the latest example of disarray at the agency that conducts background checks for Defense Department security clearances.

Persistent computer problems at the Alexandria, Va.-based DSS have contributed to a backlog of nearly a million investigations into military and civilian employees of the Pentagon, the armed forces and private defense contractors.

The computer system, hastily installed with little testing in 1998, crashed June 29 because of what officials called a data overload. It is not expected to operate until Monday, said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles J. Cunningham Jr., who took over the DSS a year ago with a mandate to upgrade the computer system, shape up the investigative process and cut into the backlog.

Although the computer shutdown “was orderly,” Cunningham said, “we lost some files.” Restarting the system has been delayed because “it takes a lot of time to load data back into the computer,” he added.

Comptroller Robert Donnelly said the agency plans to spend $47.2 million over the next five years to “stabilize” its computers. It also has budgeted $235 million to hire four investigating firms to cut down the number of pending security checks.

Some of the 1 million employees awaiting checks are seeking new security clearances. But most of the backlog consists of employees who are due for reinvestigation of existing clearances. By law, reinvestigations are required every five years for a “top secret” clearance, every 10 years for a “secret” clearance and every 15 years for access to “confidential” material.

One result of the computer problems is that a growing number of Defense Department personnel with access to secret information have not been subjected to security checks in more than five years.