-Caveat Lector-
08/20/99- Updated 12:35 AM ET
Warnings cost Pentagon lawyer his
job
By Edward T. Pound, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON - The general counsel of the Defense
Security Service was removed and transferred to
another Pentagon agency after he repeatedly warned
superiors they were violating government regulations by
taking shortcuts on security background investigations.
In a series of interviews, several current and former
Defense Department officials said counsel Thomas
Willess was moved to the National Imagery and
Mapping Agency in September 1998.
During the prior two years, they say, Willess cautioned
his superiors against relaxing investigative standards for
background reviews. They either ignored him or in other
cases didn't consult him, officials say.
Background reviews are essential to safeguarding
government secrets. The security service does about
120,000 reviews each year on employees of the Defense
Department and military contractors.
The disclosure of Willess' removal takes on added
significance in the wake of a draft report done by the
General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of
Congress. According to government officials, the GAO
says top security service managers changed policies and
relaxed standards, contrary to regulations and despite
objections of other officials.
The standards must be followed by agencies doing
background checks. They include examining financial
and law-enforcement records, verifying citizenship and
interviewing neighbors and candidates.
The GAO said 92% of the investigations it reviewed did
not fully meet the standards. The security service's new
managers vow to fix the problems.
The GAO report covered the tenures of two directors.
Margaret Munson left in March 1998. She was
succeeded by Steven Schanzer, who was removed in
June amidst major management problems. Both Munson
and Schanzer declined comment.
In a statement, Willess would say only that he had "taken
positions that were not always in lockstep" with them.
Current and former officials say Willess argued that the
standards couldn't be changed unilaterally. When the
agency decided to do many interviews by telephone in
an effort to save money, he objected.
Willess has never been given a reason for his transfer.
He also reports to the Pentagon's Office of General
Counsel. He told associates he was called to that office
last August and informed of his transfer. The Pentagon
declined comment.
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