Government Picks Up Speed on Security Clearances

While the FBI delivers 83 percent of the records requested within 30 days, on average, it still has a backlog of 53,000 requests that are more than 30 days old. Only 20 percent of state law-enforcement records can be obtained electronically.

While the State Department, Air Force and Army can provide electronic records to investigators, the Navy and Marines have only recently put their records into databases.

Because of problems in obtaining third-party information, the government has about 42,000 investigations in the pipeline that are more than 180 days old. The delay is down from 137,000 cases in October 2006.

"We've got a lot of work to do, still," Johnson said.

A Guide to Federal Finances

In 2019, the Medicare Part A trust fund, which finances inpatient hospital services for elderly Americans, will not have enough money to pay full benefits.

In 2041, the Social Security trust funds will not have assets to pay full benefits.

These handy warnings are in a first-ever citizen's guide released last week by the Treasury Department and the OMB, with assistance from the Government Accountability Office. In mostly clear language, the eight-page guide explains the government's long-term financial problems.

David M. Walker, the outgoing head of the GAO, has pushed for publication of the citizen's guide, which he said "represents an important step forward in improving public understanding of the federal government's true financial condition and fiscal challenges." For a copy of "The Federal Government's Financial Health," go to http://www.fms.treas.gov/frsummary/index.html .

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.