WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Quicker confirmation of intelligence officials is needed, a panel of intelligence experts told a Senate panel Tuesday.
Fred Fielding and Jamie Gorelick, both members of the 9/11Commission, along with government officials and intelligence experts, told the Senate Governmental Affairs committee the number of politically appointed national security jobs should be reduced, along with the process for obtaining security clearances.
Without such streamlining, the transitional period between administrations remains particularly open to intelligence problems and increased national security threats, they said.
The 9/11 Commission recommended a single federal agency be responsible for granting security clearances to make the process more efficient.
In addition, the commission called for a presidential candidate to chose his national security team before the election and submit those choices for clearance so they are in position as soon as the transfer of power is made between administrations.
