News broke this week that President-elect Trump will proceed with the standard process for background investigations for political appointees, despite speculation about potential changes. How might policies shift—or stay the same—under a new administration? In the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, Sean Bigley and Lindy Kyzer dive into what Trusted Workforce 2.0, reciprocity, and personnel vetting might look like in a new Trump term.
Trusted Workforce 2.0 Beginnings
Introduced during Trump’s first term, this initiative marked a significant shift in security clearance policy. It emphasized real-time continuous vetting, reducing the need for periodic reinvestigations, and updating over 40 key policy documents to improve efficiency.
Advancing Reciprocity
Trump’s administration pushed to address long-standing challenges with reciprocity—enabling clearance holders to move between agencies without redundant investigations. Although not fully implemented, the groundwork laid during Trump’s tenure continues to influence current efforts.
FBI and Contractor Roles in Vetting
The Trump administration sparked debates over transferring security clearance investigations from the FBI to contractors. While controversial, this proposal highlighted the heavy reliance on contractors, which already manage most background investigations for federal agencies.
Potential Second-Term Changes
Bigley noted that continuity is likely for many of Trump’s earlier policies, including Trusted Workforce 2.0. However, a new term could bring renewed focus on implementing outstanding reforms, such as reducing redundancy in agency-specific clearance processes.
Fairness and Transparency
Both hosts stressed the importance of ensuring due process in adjudication. Bigley called out inefficiencies within the intelligence community and called for consistent policies across all agencies.
As the political landscape shifts, the podcast underscores how Trump’s first term continues to shape discussions on personnel security and what the future might hold for clearance holders.
