Privatized Background Checks by USIS Led to Massive Premature Case Closures and Potential Security Gaps

Privatized Background Checks by USIS Led to Massive Premature Case Closures and Potential Security Gaps The passage reveals that the Clinton administration, backed by Vice President Al Gore, outsourced security clearance background checks to USIS, which was later owned by private equity. A 2014 government lawsuit alleges USIS closed over 665,000 investigations prematurely to boost revenue, suggesting systemic fraud and possible national security risks, especially highlighted by the Snowden case. These specifics (names, dates, numbers) provide actionable leads for further investigation into procurement contracts, private equity influence, and potential gaps in vetting processes. Key insights: Outsourcing of background checks began in 1996, backed by Vice President Al Gore.; USIS was purchased for $1.5 billion by Providence Equity Partners in 2007.; A 2014 U.S. government suit alleges USIS prematurely closed >665,000 investigations to increase payments.