The Pentagon has completed a comprehensive assessment lasting 45 days to evaluate the military's protocols regarding classified information, following a case where a National Guardsman leaked unnecessary classified information on Discord despite having a top-secret clearance.
The individual involved, Jack Teixeira, held his clearance due to his position as an information technology technician at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. However, the fact that he leaked information he did not require prompted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to initiate the review. While the review was ordered on April 14, the U.S. Defense Department released its findings and recommendations on Wednesday.
According to investigators from the Defense Department, the vast majority of personnel granted access to classified national security information demonstrate compliance with security policies and understand the criticality of maintaining information security for national security purposes.
"At the same time, the review identified areas where the department should improve its security posture and accountability measures," the Defense Department said in a fact sheet.
The Pentagon said it will "reinforce existing security policies and practices" down to the bottom ranks and update them to reduce "ambiguity" while examining opportunities to tailor training and education to "better address current and evolving security needs," among implementing other recommendations.
"The department is mindful of the need to balance information security with requirement to get the right information to the right people at the right time to enhance our national security," the fact sheet reads.
"As DoD implements the recommendations and associated actions from this review, careful consideration will be given to guard against any 'overcorrection.'"
The Defense Department announced that Secretary Austin has concluded his examination of the findings and subsequently issued instructions to senior military leaders outlining necessary actions to enhance accountability measures in the short and medium term.
In a memorandum, Austin instructed Defense Department leaders to ensure that all personnel are accurately included and accounted for within designated security information technology systems by August 31.
Military leaders who are not part of the intelligence community have been instructed to validate the necessity of their personnel accessing sensitive compartmented information. Furthermore, they must ensure that all individuals with access to such information have a duly completed non-disclosure agreement on file by the end of September.
Austin has directed the Pentagon to establish a centralized tracking system by year-end for sensitive compartmented information facilities and special access program facilities. Additionally, employees working in these facilities must certify their adherence to policies that prohibit the use of personal electronic devices.
