US Spy Agencies Outsourcing Work

Since the 9/11 attacks, the US boosted budgets for intelligence work by $10 billion annually. As a result, government programs like the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Counterterrorism Center increasingly rely on contract workers. For example, two thirds of the contractors at the counterterrorism center manage computer systems. Some analysts express alarm at the trends toward contracting sensitive work, while others suggest that contracting provides access to a broader pool of talent. As a result, the US director of intelligence has ordered a study of how all 16 US intelligence agencies rely on contract workers – and whether the use is appropriate, particularly for sensitive tasks. Contract workers are subject to the same background checks as full-time employees, but even some of that investigative work has been contracted out. Contractors cannot supervise full-time intelligence staff, but a problem arises when the more flexible contract workers earn twice as much as regular staff. As a result of the pay differences, some full-time employees quit to become contract workers. – YaleGlobal