Washington, D.C. - In light of the many changes the background investigation program has seen over the past few years, and with more to come as a result of the consolidation of federal personnel investigation resources and the implementation of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has formed the Background Investigations Stakeholders Group (BISG).

The BISG is comprised of senior security officers and managers of federal agencies responsible for the submission, adjudication or oversight of their respective agency personnel security programs.

"It is absolutely critical that the federal government focus on continuously improving background investigations. The Stakeholders Group will help improve the coordination of the many important investigations issues facing OPM's customer agencies," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. "It will educate our customers, as well as receive valuable input from them by convening a standing group of stakeholders to address both short and long-term issues to increase the investigative process and thus the security of the nation."

In addition to providing a forum for discussion of key issues and topics regarding the background investigations and adjudication programs of the federal government, it will assist in the development of strategy to meet the personnel security requirements of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, discuss and provide recommendations to the Personnel Security Working Group on standardization and improvements to the background investigation program, and develop long-term strategies regarding the enhancement of investigative processes for the federal government.

As a part of its charter, the BISG will conduct regular meetings and forums with senior security officers of federal agencies. The Center for Federal Investigative Services (CFIS) will sponsor and facilitate the meetings in addition to developing topics for discussion.