DCSA Seeks Ways to Use Artificial Intelligence in Background Investigations

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is moving forward with plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into the background investigation and security vetting process. The agency has already awarded contracts under blanket purchase agreements and continues to seek private-sector expertise to help develop AI-powered capabilities.

According to DCSA officials, AI has the potential to dramatically reduce security clearance processing times—from months to, in some cases, just hours. But that raises an important question: How much of the process can be trusted to AI, and what level of human oversight will remain?

DCSA processes an estimated 43,000 security clearance requests each year. Under its vision for AI integration, routine and straightforward cases could be handled largely by automated systems, while more complex investigations and all final eligibility decisions would remain in the hands of trained personnel security analysts. The initiative is another step in the federal government’s broader effort to modernize personnel vetting through programs like Continuous Vetting and Trusted Workforce 2.0.

While DCSA has not outlined exactly which tasks AI will ultimately perform, automation is already playing a role in today’s investigations. AI-assisted tools can verify employment through services like The Work Number, search local court and driving records, confirm citizenship status, and complete a variety of other routine record checks. That information is then compiled into an investigation file for an adjudicator to review if any potential issues are identified.

The agency also already uses e-Adjudication to automatically grant favorable determinations for investigations with no derogatory information—commonly referred to as “clean” cases. Expanding AI’s role is a natural progression of these existing capabilities, though questions surrounding transparency, oversight, and accountability will continue to be key as the technology becomes more deeply embedded in the clearance process.

As Bob Dylan famously sang, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” The security clearance process appears to be changing right along with them.