The government’s primary agency for securing critical infrastructure is trying to resolve a staffing shortage as it implements an aggressive schedule to identify vulnerabilities and take corrective action. The Homeland Security Department’s Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection directorate is authorized to have 729 full-time employees, but had hired only 279 people as of the beginning of March, the agency’s director, retired Marine Corp. Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on Thursday. To address the shortage, Libutti said the directorate plans to hire 40 employees a month until authorized staffing levels are reached. The directorate has encountered problems competing with the private sector and other government agencies for qualified employees, according to Libutti, and the process of obtaining security clearances for new hires can take up to 18 months. Full Story