The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is looking to expand its regulations regarding designation of national security positions.
In a proposed rule, the OPM wants to simplify and streamline the system of Federal Government investigative and adjudicative processes to make them “more efficient and as equitable as possible”. This will update the definitions of numerous national security positions where the duties include “protecting the nation, its citizens and residents from acts of terrorism, espionage or foreign aggression, including protecting the nation’s borders, ports, critical infrastructure…," the proposed rule states.
The OPM is proposing that a federal agency can now authorize national security positions for any job that involves:
- Protecting or controlling access to facilities or information systems
- Controlling, maintaining custody, safeguarding or disposing of hazardous materials, arms, ammunition or explosives
- Exercising investigative or adjudicative duties related to national security, suitability, fitness or identity credentialing
- Exercising criminal justice, public safety or law enforcement duties
- Conducting audits or investigations of these functions, where the occupant’s neglect, action or inaction could bring about a material adverse effect on the national security
Yet not all positions with these responsibilities should be designated as national security positions, the OPM warns. Instead, in each instance agencies need to determine whether the position’s “neglect, action or inaction could bring about a material adverse effect on the national security, i.e., could cause at least “significant or serious damage to the national security.”
Once the news rules are finalized, agencies must assess each position using the new national security positions definitions within two years. This gives agencies time to review employee’s duties and determine if they are consistent with national security.
“The proposal does not require that all investigations be completed within the 24-month timeframe, only that positions be re-evaluated by then, and that any required investigation be initiated within 14 days of a person’s occupancy of a position that has been newly designated as sensitive,” the proposed rule states.
