Speed Up the Security Clearance System

Whether Jared Kushner regains his top-secret security clearance is ultimately a decision for his father-in-law, President Donald Trump. That Kushner's status remains in limbo, like that of scores of his White House colleagues, speaks to the dysfunction of the security-clearance system itself.

It’s useful to distinguish Kushner’s case from the systemic problem. Considering the sheer delinquency of his application for a clearance, it's not surprising that Kushner still hasn't received one: His original filing contained at least 100 errors or omissions that he later corrected. Kushner's habit of taking undisclosed meetings with foreign governments have added to doubts about his trustworthiness.