; (2) the protracted clearance timetable threatens the ability of elements of the intelligence community to hire and retain highly qualified individuals, and thus to fulfill the missions of such elements; (3) the prospect of a lengthy clearance process deters some such individuals from seeking employment with the intelligence community in the first place, and, when faced with a long wait time, those with conditional offers of employment may opt to discontinue the security clearance process and pursue different opportunities; (4) now more than ever, therefore, the broken security clearance process badly needs fundamental reform; and (5) in the meantime, to ensure the ability of elements of the intelligence community to hire and retain highly qualified personnel, elements should consider, to the extent possible and consistent with national security, permitting new employees to enter on duty immediately or nearly so, and to perform, on a temporary basis pending final adjudication of their security clearances, work that either does not require a security clearance or requires only a low-level interim clearance. (b) In general Section 506H of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3104 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting and after the semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and (C) by striking subparagraph (C); (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c)