Federal Diary
By Stephen Barr
Sunday, August 14, 2005; Page C02
There are about 40 of them -- ghost employees of the State Department. They have had their security clearances suspended and are under investigation until officials decide whether to revoke or restore them.
Some of the employees are Foreign Service officers with decades of experience. They say they have been waiting for as long as two and three years for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which investigates possible security risks, to make decisions in their cases.
Daniel Hirsch , one of the diplomats with a suspended clearance, was recalled to Washington from a Central Asian nation after his wife sought marital counseling. He has been in limbo, as he called it in an interview, for more than two years. Hirsch has retained his salary and, he said, performs "some light duties" in an office "with a lovely view of the Capitol dome."
Bill Savich , whose case has been pending for two years, was recalled from a "critical threat" nation after allegations were made that he had an improper relationship with a local woman. He denied the charge and said senior officials in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security will not respond to his requests for a ruling in his case.
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There are no good endings in these disputes, as longtime federal employees know. Even if they win back their clearances, the diplomats said, their careers are effectively over.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/13/AR2005081301050.htmlHmm...I wonder if they have anything in common with General Byrnes....