Advanced search Help
Searching for terms: EXACT: "CRS Report for Congress, RL31988" in: series
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [February 9, 2009]
"Four years after Congress directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to revamp its polygraph program, taking into account a 2003 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that questioned the scientific basis for the accuracy of polygraph testing, particularly when used to 'screen' employees, DOE promulgated a regulation on October 30, 2006, that eliminated polygraph screening tests without specific cause. DOE said its counterintelligence evaluation policies were now consistent with existing Intelligence Community practices and the NAS 2003 report's recommendations, particularly for cases when polygraph tests were used for screening purposes rather than for investigating specific events. Under its 2006 regulation, DOE requires that an applicant or employee be polygraph tested only if one of the following five causes is triggered: (1) a counterintelligence evaluation of an applicant or employee reveals that the individual may be engaged in certain activities, including clandestine or unreported relationships with foreign powers, organizations, or persons; (2) an employee is to be assigned to certain activities within DOE which involve another agency, and that agency requires a polygraph examination; (3) an agency to which a DOE employee will be assigned requests that DOE administer a polygraph examination as a condition of the assignment; (4) an employee is selected for a random counterintelligence evaluation, including a polygraph test; or (5) an employee is required to take a specific-incident polygraph examination."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2009-02-09
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [Updated April 17, 2008]
"Four years after Congress directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to revamp its polygraph program, taking into account a 2003 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that questioned the scientific basis for the accuracy of polygraph testing, particularly when used to 'screen' employees, DOE promulgated a regulation on October 30, 2006, that eliminated polygraph screening tests without specific cause. DOE said its counterintelligence evaluation policies were now consistent with existing Intelligence Community practices and the NAS 2003 report's recommendations, particularly for cases when polygraph tests were used for screening purposes rather than for investigating specific events. […] The value of polygraph testing, with its associated uncertainties, has been a part of Congress's continuing oversight interest for DOE. This report examines how DOE's polygraph testing program has evolved and reviews certain scientific findings with regard to the polygraph's scientific validity. Several issues include whether: DOE's new screening program is focused on an appropriate number of individuals occupying only the most sensitive positions; the program should be expanded in order to adequately safeguard certain classified information; further research into the polygraph's scientific validity is needed; there are possible alternatives to the polygraph; and whether DOE should continue polygraph screening. Possible options include a more focused polygraph screening program, an expanded polygraph program, additional research into the polygraph's scientific validity, and eliminating the use of the polygraph to screen applicants and employees."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2008-04-17
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [Updated December 10, 2007]
"Four years after Congress directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to revamp its polygraph program, taking into account a 2003 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that questioned the scientific basis for the accuracy of polygraph testing, particularly when used to 'screen' employees, DOE promulgated a regulation on October 30, 2006, that eliminated polygraph screening tests without specific cause. DOE said its counterintelligence evaluation policies were now consistent with existing Intelligence Community practices and the NAS 2003 report's recommendations, particularly for cases when polygraph tests were used for screening purposes rather than for investigating specific events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2007-12-10
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [February 14, 2007]
"Four years after the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) questioned the accuracy of polygraph testing, and some members of Congress urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to use the polygraph as a counterintelligence rather than as a general screening tool, DOE on October 30, 2006, eliminated the use of polygraph testing for screening applicants for employment and incumbent employees without specific cause. DOE said its new counterintelligence evaluation regulations are consistent with Intelligence Community practices and more in line with NAS's 2002 recommendations, which questioned the scientific validity of the polygraph, particularly in cases when it is used to screen applicants rather than to investigate specific events. […] DOE said that instituting a 'specific-cause' standard will significantly reduce the number of individuals who will undergo polygraph testing. This report examines how DOE's new polygraph screening policy has evolved and reviews certain scientific findings with regard to the polygraph's accuracy. As part of its continuing oversight of DOE's polygraph program, the 110th Congress could address several issues, including whether DOE's new screening program is sufficiently focused on a small number of individuals occupying only the most sensitive positions; program implementation; the desirability of further research into scientific validity of the polygraph and possible alternatives to the polygraph; and whether to continue or discontinue polygraph screening. This report will be updated as warranted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2007-02-14
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [Updated April 7, 2006]
"On January 7, 2005, the DOE proposed a new regulation that would institute a polygraph screening program, but only for individuals with regular access to the most sensitive information. The result would be to reduce from more than 20,000 to approximately 4,500 the number of DOE and contractor personnel potentially subject to mandatory polygraph tests. DOE's new proposal came after some Members of Congress urged that the Department adopt a more focused polygraph program in the wake of a 2002 study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that questioned the validity of polygraph testing, particularly when it is used for screening purposes. In the wake of the Wen Ho Lee case, DOE in March 1999 initiated and later announced its first-ever use of the polygraph to screen approximately 800 DOE federal and contractor employees in certain high-risk programs.2 Congress in October 1999 formally mandated that DOE employ the polygraph as a screening tool (P.L. 106-65, Sec. 3154) and expanded the program to cover 13,000 DOE employees. The following year, Congress further expanded polygraph screening to cover approximately 20,000 DOE employees (P.L. 106-398, Sec. 3135). In part because of continuing opposition by some DOE nuclear weapons laboratory employees, Congress in 2001 requested that NAS review the scientific evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the polygraph, particularly when used for personnel security screening. Congress directed DOE to institute a new polygraph program that took into account the NAS findings (P.L. 107-107, Sec. 3152)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2006-04-07
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [updated February 3, 2005]
"On January 7, 2005, the DOE proposed a new regulation that would institute a polygraph screening program, but only for individuals with regular access to the most sensitive information. The result would be to reduce from more than 20,000 to approximately 4,500 the number of DOE and contractor personnel potentially subject to mandatory polygraph tests. DOE's new proposal came after some Members of Congress urged that the Department adopt a more focused polygraph program in the wake of a 2002 study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that questioned the validity of polygraph testing, particularly when it is used for screening purposes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2005-02-03
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [Updated October 1, 2003]
Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary Kyle E. McSlarrow recommended on September 4, 2003, that the DOE issue a proposed regulation by the end of the year that would sharply curtail the use of the polygraph for screening DOE employees with access to classified information. McSlarrow said that he has recommended to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham a mandatory polygraph screening program only for individuals with regular access to the most sensitive information. The result would be to reduce to approximately 4,500 the number of DOE and contractor personnel potentially subject to mandatory polygraph tests (from an estimated 20,000). In part because of continuing opposition by some DOE nuclear weapons laboratory employees, Congress in 2001 requested that NAS review the scientific evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the polygraph, particularly when used for personnel security screening. The NAS study concluded that while polygraph testing is more effective when used in connection with event-specific investigations, its accuracy is insufficient to justify reliance on its use in screening current and prospective federal agency employees-- DOE's principal purpose in using the polygraph. Congress might assess several possible approaches, including retaining the status quo, establishing a more focused polygraph program of the kind proposed by McSlarrow; researching alternatives to the polygraph; and eliminating the polygraph for screening purposes altogether.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2003-10-01
-
Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress [July 8, 2003]
"In the aftermath of the Wen Ho Lee case and the growing concern over the Department of Energys (DOE) counterintelligence program that followed, DOE in March 1999 began developing its first-ever polygraph screening program affecting an estimated 800 DOE employees with access to sensitive and classified information. Congress in October 1999 mandated DOE polygraph testing (P.L. 106-65, Sec.3154) and expanded the program to cover 13,000 DOE employees with access to sensitive and classified information. The following year, Congress further expanded polygraph testing to cover approximately 20,000 DOE employees (P.L. 106-398, Sec.3135) with the addition of new eligibility categories. In part because of continuing opposition by some DOE nuclear weapons laboratory employees, Congress in 2001 requested that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) review the scientific evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the polygraph, particularly when used for personnel security screening. Congress directed DOE to institute a new polygraph program based upon the NAS findings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cumming, Alfred
2003-07-08
1