Mission Critical Talent
A Study of the Applicant Experience in U.S. Government Personnel Vetting
Photo by cyano66/Getty Images
We are inviting current and former U.S. government employees and contractors to take a survey as part of a study to understand experiences with the Federal background investigation and vetting process. This is the process by which U.S. government employees, contractors, and members of the armed forces are screened to determine if they are suitable for work, and for some people, receive a security clearance.
The study is funded by the Security Clearance, Suitability, and Credentialing Performance Accountability Council Program Management Office (SSC PAC PMO) and is being conducted by researchers at RAND, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization. The survey is being hosted online by IPSOS, a survey research firm partnering with RAND.
The survey is being distributed in summer 2026. Potential participants will receive a link to the survey. The survey will take from 5 minutes to 25 minutes, depending on your experiences. Your identity and your responses will be protected and kept completely confidential. Only the research and survey team will see your individual responses.
If you have any questions about the survey or the study, please direct them to: MissionCriticalTalent@rand.org