More than 165 people who have received conditional offers to work at Electric Boat have not been able to begin due to a backlog in federal background check investigations. According to the president of the Metal Trade Council, the wait is causing a holdup with EB’s increased workload as a result of being awarded big Navy contracts. The National Background Investigations Bureau, an agency created by the Obama administration, was in operation Oct. 1. The agency should improve access to criminal history records through automated systems and uses enhanced IT security through a collaboration with the defense department.