The longstanding delays and backlogs with personnel security clearances were effectively addressed by the Obama administration. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said in a June 2012 hearing on the status of security clearance reform, "initial investigations take an average of 44 days to complete, compared to a staggering 189 days in 2005."

This was the honey produced by thousands of busy bees.

Why security clearances were rated effective

Reason #1: OPM details efforts on security clearance reform Reason #2: GAO removes DoD's security clearance program from the high risk list Reason #3: Initial investigations take an average of 44 days to complete, compared to 189 days in 2005 (More primary source material available on The Obama Impact Resource Page)

In 2009, the Federal Investigative Services Division within the Office of Personnel Management issued a plan to make more efficient their role in streamlining the clearance process.

Those and many other efforts by OPM, the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence resulted in the Government Accountability Office removing the Defense Department's security clearance program from the high-risk list.

GAO cited robust congressional oversight and the "committed leadership" of the Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council, or PAC, as a key driver of the reforms.

Evan Lesser, the founder and managing director of ClearanceJobs.com joins Federal News Radio to discuss the administration's progress in addressing the security clearance backlog.

The interview is part of Federal News Radio's special report, The Obama Impact: Evaluating the Last Four Years. Throughout the series, Federal News Radio examines 23 different ideas and initiatives instituted by the Obama Administration and ranks them as effective, ineffective and more progress needed.

Federal News Radio believes security clearance reform has been one of the effective initiatives of the Obama administration.

More from the special report, The Obama Impact: Evaluating the Last Four Years

Part 1: Evaluating the Obama administration's management initiatives

Part 2: Evaluating Obama's technology reforms

Part 3: Evaluating Obama's workforce initiatives

Part 4: Evaluating Obama's acquisition efforts

Part 5A: What would a second-term for President Obama mean for feds?

Part 5B: What would a Romney presidency mean for federal workers?