Patrick McFarland, the inspector general at the Office of Personnel Management, said during a Senate hearing that the contractor USIS is being investigated and that the company performed a background investigation of Edward Snowden.
McFarland also told lawmakers that there may have been problems with the way the background check of Snowden was done, but McFarland and one of his assistants declined to say after the hearing what triggered the decision to investigate USIS and whether it involved the company's check of Snowden.
USIS is a private company based in Falls Church that has done, under contract to OPM, a large portion of the background inquiries, including Snowden’s reinvestigation. USIS, itself, is under investigation.
Michelle B. Schmitz, OPM’s assistant inspector general for investigations, told the hearing that USIS has been under investigation since late 2011 in a “complicated contract fraud case.” Inspector general officials provided no details about that investigation.
USIS specializes in providing information and security services to government agencies and commercial enterprises. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, USIS delivers background screening and risk management solutions that not only protect national security, but also support and help empower decision-makers the world over.
Since 1996, USIS has been the leading provider of background investigations to the federal government. Along with its focus on protecting national security, USIS is a preeminent source of comprehensive litigation support services in the legal services market.
McCaskill, chairwoman of the other subcommittee, was skeptical about the use of so many contractors doing background checks. USIS, she said, gets $45 million a year for administrative support “to do office work,” plus “several hundred million dollars a year to do background checks.” It takes 999 people to do the office work; only 35 are federal employees.
“Why are we paying contractors instead of hiring people?” McCaskill wanted to know.
An OPM official said contractors cost less but acknowledged that the agency had no cost-benefit analysis.
“I’m tired of this assumption being made that contractors are cheaper” when some studies show they are more expensive, McCaskill said.
Sometimes, the investigators need to be investigated.
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades!
I have a question for our resident football person...
I've recently learned that we're camping with a troop from Oxfordshire during our week at Scout Camp. I'm wondering which football club I should insult on their behalf. I looked, and they're a small village northwest of London.
Although I suspect that "Eat a bag of dicks, Man U!" is the English equivalent of "Yankees Suck!".
Quote by Mondobubba:
Now back to my scheduled outrage. Security clearances have been outsourced? WTF? That has been a job for the FBI in the past and should be again.
"We might be assholes, but there are a whole lot of us." Special Agent FitzHugh of the Baltimore field off in season 2 of "The Wire."
They could shake a few of those folks to do back round checks.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Mondobubba:
Now back to my scheduled outrage. Security clearances have been outsourced? WTF? That has been a job for the FBI in the past and should be again.
"We might be assholes, but there are a whole lot of us." Special Agent FitzHugh of the Baltimore field off in season 2 of "The Wire."
They could shake a few of those folks to do back round checks.
Well, here is the key difference between government and private industry handling our security needs. Government employees are not only cheaper, but are focused on doing the job and public service. Ultimately, they and their bosses report back to us and are subject to public pressure and changes pushed by the voters. As for private corporations, their concern is profit and they usually only respond to their majority share holders. I can show up at a Congressman's office and someone will meet with me to address my concerns. Try that at Booz Hamilton.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Mondobubba:
Now back to my scheduled outrage. Security clearances have been outsourced? WTF? That has been a job for the FBI in the past and should be again.
"We might be assholes, but there are a whole lot of us." Special Agent FitzHugh of the Baltimore field off in season 2 of "The Wire."
They could shake a few of those folks to do back round checks.
Well, here is the key difference between government and private industry handling our security needs. Government employees are not only cheaper, but are focused on doing the job and public service. Ultimately, they and their bosses report back to us and are subject to public pressure and changes pushed by the voters. As for private corporations, their concern is profit and they usually only respond to their majority share holders. I can show up at a Congressman's office and someone will meet with me to address my concerns. Try that at Booz Hamilton.
Quote by wickedpam:
Its very quiet with mom and dad on the road
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Mondobubba:
Now back to my scheduled outrage. Security clearances have been outsourced? WTF? That has been a job for the FBI in the past and should be again.
"We might be assholes, but there are a whole lot of us." Special Agent FitzHugh of the Baltimore field off in season 2 of "The Wire."
They could shake a few of those folks to do back round checks.
Well, here is the key difference between government and private industry handling our security needs. Government employees are not only cheaper, but are focused on doing the job and public service. Ultimately, they and their bosses report back to us and are subject to public pressure and changes pushed by the voters. As for private corporations, their concern is profit and they usually only respond to their majority share holders. I can show up at a Congressman's office and someone will meet with me to address my concerns. Try that at Booz Hamilton.
I was just thing the same thing!![]()
Ok Will, out of my head!![]()
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Mondobubba:
Now back to my scheduled outrage. Security clearances have been outsourced? WTF? That has been a job for the FBI in the past and should be again.
"We might be assholes, but there are a whole lot of us." Special Agent FitzHugh of the Baltimore field off in season 2 of "The Wire."
They could shake a few of those folks to do back round checks.
Well, here is the key difference between government and private industry handling our security needs. Government employees are not only cheaper, but are focused on doing the job and public service. Ultimately, they and their bosses report back to us and are subject to public pressure and changes pushed by the voters. As for private corporations, their concern is profit and they usually only respond to their majority share holders. I can show up at a Congressman's office and someone will meet with me to address my concerns. Try that at Booz Hamilton.
I was just thing the same thing!![]()
Ok Will, out of my head!![]()
Well, I went to Rush Limbaugh's head first but found it to be rather empty and barren.
Quote by TriSec:
Speaking of bags of dicks, anybody hear anything from Scoop at anytime after his brief appearance yesterday?
<-- admonishes self.
Quote by TriSec:
*non-sequitir*
Independence Day is a Thursday this year. As a result, many folks are turning this into a thanksgiving-style weekend and taking the Friday off as well. (Including FCHP - they just gave us a freebie.)
In any case, the City of Waltham is having a massive, 2-day patriotic affair, featuring our vaunted city fireworks on Friday night.
I recognize the "convenience" factor, but who has freakin' 4th of July fireworks on July 5???
I must write a tongue-in-cheek complaint to my friends on City Council.
Quote by TriSec:
Interesting.
It seems that it's much easier to follow American professional sport.
No city within 33 miles of me has another team in the same sports and/or leagues, although there's a number of "minor" and "semipro" entities within that sphere. (across all sports, not just MLB or anything else.)
Quote by Mondobubba:
C'mon people I can't do this by myself! Post! :whip:
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
C'mon people I can't do this by myself! Post! :whip:
trying to get some work done since I'm taking Monday off - plus sports - meh![]()
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:
Speaking of bags of dicks, anybody hear anything from Scoop at anytime after his brief appearance yesterday?
<-- admonishes self.
I hope he went to the doctor and I hope he and his thing are okay.
Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Speaking of that, I know get a $20 discount on my health insurance since I am a non-smoker.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Quote by Raine:Why yes!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Can someone PLEASE tell that is NOT true that Kanye West named his baby North. Please?
Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Quote by Raine:Why yes!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Can someone PLEASE tell that is NOT true that Kanye West named his baby North. Please?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Speaking of that, I know get a $20 discount on my health insurance since I am a non-smoker.
we don't get discounts like that- everything is averaged over the whole company so we all pay the same rate for the same programs -
I think its mostly cause our HR person is more interesting is chatting with her 2 bffs then doing anything detailed
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Have you seen the recent BMI and obesity index tables that Uncle Sam has put out? According to my latest checkup, I am classified as "obese", and remember how much weight I lost last year due to other factors....
I'm hearing from my Scouting contacts that next month's Jamboree is going to be a disaster. The BSA went all hardline, and a lot of folks that went last time under the old rules can't qualify under the new health guidelines, so they're going to be severely shorthanded on the staff front...
(BTW, FCHP just sent me $50 for participating in the "Healthy Health Plan" program. I also could qualify for $20 off my premiums at the office by participating in a couple of employee initiatives. But I only get $10 because I like my cigars too much.)
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
ya, now that they are classifying obesity as a disease maybe insurance company's will start kicking in to help pay for weight loss programs that can be very expensive.
Speaking of that, I know get a $20 discount on my health insurance since I am a non-smoker.
we don't get discounts like that- everything is averaged over the whole company so we all pay the same rate for the same programs -
I think its mostly cause our HR person is more interesting is chatting with her 2 bffs then doing anything detailed
Does your HR person look something like this:
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Why yes!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Can someone PLEASE tell that is NOT true that Kanye West named his baby North. Please?
No, it is Kaidyn or something equally stupid starting with a K. Enough of that Kardashians! One generation is a enough.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Why yes!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Can someone PLEASE tell that is NOT true that Kanye West named his baby North. Please?
No, it is Kaidyn or something equally stupid starting with a K. Enough of that Kardashians! One generation is a enough.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Why yes!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Hi! just wanted to pop in and say hello from the alwasy Lovely Jersey turnike.
the Wifi is terrible on the bus...
Bus wifi?
Can someone PLEASE tell that is NOT true that Kanye West named his baby North. Please?
No, it is Kaidyn or something equally stupid starting with a K. Enough of that Kardashians! One generation is a enough.