The recent stop-work order that has prevented a major U.S. contractor from conducting background investigations could significantly impact the security clearance process, especially if it lasts for an extended period, industry officials said.

The stop-work order was issued Aug. 6 after USIS, the Falls Church, Va.-based company that does the bulk of the federal government’s contracted investigations, was hacked, potentially exposing the records of thousands of government employees.

Since then, the two agencies that suspended the work have been trying to shift the investigations to other contractors, or do them in-house, the Office of Personnel Management said in a statement.

But cases that had been assigned to USIS are “pending completion,” the OPM said. And the stop-work order can remain in place for up to 90 days.

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