Polygraph Timelines Affected by DRP and Retirements

Previously, polygraphs were already the part of getting security clearance eligibility that took the longest with the Intelligence Community agencies. This was due to polygraph examiner shortages and scheduling backlogs which included having to test some individuals multiple times when the results were inconclusive or deception was found. Some applicants would wait from six months to a year to get theirs scheduled. Now, with the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) offers from various IC agencies, the number of certified polygraphers has dropped by approximately 30%.

How will this affect polygraph scheduling going forward? It will most certainly add to already lengthy timelines for applicants who need one. Polygraphers left behind will inherit the work of those who have left, increasing their own workloads and adding to the ever-growing backlog. That means agencies hiring timelines will also grow once the current hiring freeze is lifted because everyone will be rushing in at the same time to find applicants to fill the huge void left by those who took advantage of the DRP, VERA, or just retired. Also, applicants themselves will not want to wait on the sidelines for that long, and instead, will seek positions where a polygraph is not required to get a security clearance.

The bottom line: this ripple effect will reverberate for years throughout the IC and other agencies who require polygraphs long after the current administration is gone. Only time will tell what other effects it has on protecting national security and the ability for our intelligence and counterintelligence professionals to keep pace with our adversaries.