Federal Real Property: Improved Data and Access Needed for Employees with Disabilities Using Secure Facilities
Fast Facts
Federal employees use secure facilities—known as "SCIFs"—to work with classified information. But some SCIFs aren't accessible for employees with disabilities—e.g., some doors are too heavy to open, or doorways are too narrow for wheelchairs.
While the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has taken some steps to address access issues, it can do more. For example, it should improve its guidance on SCIFs to identify accessibility requirements and indicate how agencies should evaluate medical devices or assistive technologies—like screen readers—for use in these facilities.
Our recommendations address these and other issues.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and selected agencies have taken some steps to address physical access barriers to sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIF), such as adding automatic door openers. However, additional barriers remain, including:
- Inaccessible entry doors and interior workspaces
- Challenges with electronic door locks and intrusion detection systems
- Absence of tactile signage
ODNI has not issued guidance identifying minimum specifications for common accessibility concerns and addressing accessibility in inspections. Without such guidance, agencies could miss opportunities to strengthen the federal workforce by enhancing accessibility for employees with disabilities.
Physical Barriers to Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) at Selected Facilities That GAO Visited
ODNI and selected agencies have enhanced access to assistive technologies and medical devices for people with disabilities working in SCIFs, such as expanding videophones and interpretation services. However, agencies still face challenges ensuring access to these technologies and devices. These challenges include:
- Variation in SCIFs
- Reciprocity with other agencies
- Evolving technologies
ODNI has provided agencies with limited guidance to evaluate options to use assistive technologies and medical devices in SCIFs. Additional guidance would better ensure that people with disabilities can have access to the devices they need to fully and appropriately perform their jobs in SCIFs.
Why GAO Did This Study
SCIFs are the only facilities authorized for storing, using, discussing, and processing highly classified information. The Director of National Intelligence, whose organization sets policy for the design, construction, and management of SCIFs, stated that she expects agency leaders to remove barriers to equal opportunities for their workforces, including for people with disabilities.
GAO was asked to review federal agencies' efforts to manage SCIFs and ensure accessibility. This report, among other things, assesses the extent that selected agencies provide physical access to SCIFs and assistive technologies or medical devices in SCIFs. GAO reviewed ODNI guidance, obtained data, visited nine facilities with SCIFs, and conducted interviews. This is a public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in September 2023. Information ODNI deemed sensitive has been omitted.
Recommendations
GAO is making four recommendations, including that the Director of National Intelligence develop guidance for agencies that identify minimum specifications for common accessibility concerns, address accessibility in inspections, and include consistent procedures for agencies to evaluate assistive technologies or medical devices. ODNI did not provide formal comments on the recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | The Director of National Intelligence should ensure that the Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, in collaboration with each of the SCIF accrediting agencies, develops and implements a plan outlining steps for SCIF accrediting agencies to report data on their inventory of SCIFs in a timely manner in accordance with ICD 705. (Recommendation 1) |
In its March 2024 response to our report, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) noted that it concurred with the recommendation and expressed its intent to implement the recommendation to improve sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) management and ensure maximum accessibility for all individuals working within SCIFs. In May 2024, ODNI noted that it planned to issue a memorandum to the heads of the Intelligence Community (IC) elements reminding them of their responsibility to report data in the SCIF repository in accordance with Intelligence Community Directive 705. ODNI further noted that the National Counterintelligence and Security Center would coordinate with SCIF accrediting officials not compliant with the reporting requirement and request a plan of action to report an accurate inventory of SCIFs. However, as of May 2024 ODNI had not provided documentation to support these efforts. Once provided, we will review available documentation to assess the extent to which they meet the intent of our recommendation.
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| Office of the Director of National Intelligence |
Priority Rec.
The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the IC element heads, should issue updated or new guidance that identifies minimum specifications for common accessibility concerns at entrances and within SCIFs, including automatic door openers, accessible door locks and intrusion detection systems, and tactile signage. (Recommendation 2) |
In its March 2024 response to our report, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) noted that it concurred with the recommendation and expressed its intent to implement the recommendation to improve SCIF management and ensure maximum accessibility for all individuals working within SCIFs. As of May 2024, ODNI had not taken action to close this recommendation. Once provided, we will review available documentation to assess the extent to which ODNI's efforts meet the intent of our recommendation.
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| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the IC element heads, should issue updated or new guidance that addresses accessibility in the annual SCIF security inspection process. This process could include an accessibility checklist to all federal agencies to identify and address—to the maximum practicable—physical access barriers to and inside SCIFs. (Recommendation 3) |
In its March 2024 response to our report, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) noted that it concurred with the recommendation and expressed its intent to implement the recommendation to improve SCIF management and ensure maximum accessibility for all individuals working within SCIFs. As of May 2024, ODNI had not taken action to close this recommendation. Once provided, we will review available documentation to assess the extent to which ODNI's efforts meet the intent of our recommendation.
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| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the IC element heads, should issue updated or new guidance that includes consistent procedures for IC elements to follow when evaluating assistive technologies or medical devices for use in SCIFs. At a minimum, that guidance should identify how federal agencies should address variation in SCIFs, reciprocity between agencies, and technology evolution as it relates to assistive technologies and medical devices. (Recommendation 4) |
In its March 2024 response to our report, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) noted that it concurred with the recommendation. In April 2024, ODNI issued Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 124 titled Electronic Medical Devices. The directive, which applies to all SCIFs located in or sponsored by the U.S. Government, notes that the Intelligence Community (IC) should take a consistent approach to managing electronic medical devices. The ICD provides a foundation for ensuring consistent procedures by outlining how requests are to be submitted and reviewed and how decisions are to be communicated. The review criteria include a consideration of impact to the user and the mission and physical and technical capabilities of the device and the security mitigations of the SCIF. The ICD also identifies reciprocity requirements and designates the IC Electronic Medical Device Governance Board as the entity responsible for developing strategies to address emerging technology. In May 2024, ODNI officials told us they plan to issue additional standards to accompany ICD 124 to document consistent procedures for evaluating electronic devices and for implementing reciprocity between agencies. They also noted that the IC was in the process of nominating representatives to the IC Electronic Governance Board. ODNI's issuance of ICD 124 meets the intent of this recommendation and will help ensure consistent procedures that IC elements can follow when evaluating assistive technologies or medical devices for use in sensitive compartmented information facilities.
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