Who is primarily responsible for conducting background investigations?

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) holds the primary responsibility for conducting background investigations for security clearances within the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. DCSA is tasked with ensuring that individuals who are granted access to sensitive information are trustworthy and do not pose a risk to national security.

This agency performs comprehensive background checks that include reviewing an individual's employment history, criminal record, and other pertinent information that can help assess their reliability and loyalty. The DCSA has established protocols and standards for conducting these investigations, making it the central authority for such evaluations within its jurisdiction.

While other entities like the FBI, OPM, and DHS have roles in the security clearance process or conduct investigations, they are not primarily responsible for the background investigations the way DCSA is structured to be. The FBI may assist in certain investigations, OPM used to handle the majority of background checks before processes transitioned to DCSA, and DHS focuses more broadly on homeland security rather than individual investigations related to security clearances in the same way that DCSA does.