Security clearance
From Freepedia
A security clearance is a status granted individuals, typically members of the military and employees of governments and their contractors, allowing them access to classified information, i.e. state secrets. The term "security clearance " is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal process to vet employees for access to sensitive information. A clearance by itself is normally not sufficient to gain access; the organization must determine that the cleared individual has a "need to know" the information. No one is supposed to be granted access to classified information solely because of rank, position, or a security clearance.
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Levels
A security clearance generally specifies a level of access. In the United States government there are three primary levels: confidential, secret and top secret. These levels are hierarchical, thus someone holding a secret clearance could access confidential information, but not top secret information.
There are often special categories of information that require additional clearances by law or regulation. Some examples in the United States included:
- Access to information produced or acquired by members of the US Intelligence Community requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance granted by the Department of Defense or other individual agency member of the Intelligence Community.
- NSA intelligence information is compartmented under the Special Intelligence (SI) compartment within the SCI program. SI access includes signals intelligence (SIGINT) from NSA listening posts or communications security (COMSEC) information about critical NSA cryptographic systems.
- Nuclear weapons and special nuclear material - requires special clearance from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Atomic Energy Act, for example, a Q clearance for top secret access.
- War plans (SIOP)
Certain U.S. government departments may also establish special access programs (SAP) when vulnerability of specific information is exceptional; and the normal criteria for determining eligibility for access applicable to information classified at the same level are not deemed sufficient to protect the information from unauthorized disclosure. The number of people cleared for access to such programs is typically kept low. Information about stealth technology often requires SAP access.
Requirements for a clearance
The vetting process for a security clearance is usually undertaken only when someone hired or transferred into a position that requires access to classified information. The employee is typically fingerprinted and asked to fill out a detailed life history form, including all foreign travel, which becomes a starting point for an investigation into the candidates suitability. This process can include several types of investigations, depending on the level of clearance required:
- National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). An NACLC is required for a SECRET, L, and CONFIDENTIAL access. (See: Background check)
- Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). An SSBI is required for TOP SECRET, Q, and SCI access, and involves agents contacting employers, coworkers and other individuals. Standard elements include checks of employment; education; organization affiliations; local agencies; where the subject has lived, worked, or gone to school; and interviews with persons who know the individual. The investigation may include an NACLC on the candidate’s spouse or cohabitant and any immediate family members who are U.S. citizens other than by birth or who are not U.S. citizens.
- Polygraph. Some agencies may require polygraph examinations. The most common examinations are Counter Intelligence (CI) and Full Scope (Lifestyle) polygraphs. While a positive SSBI is sufficient for access to SCI-level information, polygraphs are routinely administered for "staff-like" access to particular agencies.
If issues of concern surface during any phase of security processing, coverage is expanded to resolve those issues. Investigations conducted by one federal agency are no longer supposed to be duplicated by another federal agency when those investigations are current within 5 years and meet the scope and standards for the level of clearance required. The high level clearance process can be lengthy, sometimes taking a year or more. The long time needed for new appointees to be cleared has been cited as hindering U.S. presidential transitions.
Security briefings
In the U.S., once the clearance is granted the candidate is briefed on "the proper safeguarding of classified information and on the criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions that may be imposed on an individual who fails to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure." He or she is also required to sign an approved non-disclosure agreement (e.g. form SF-312). High level clearances are reviewed periodically and any "adverse information" reports received at any time can trigger a review. When a cleared person leaves their job they are often "debriefed" -- reminded of their ongoing obligations to protect the information they were allowed to see.
Individuals who have had security clearances revoked
In the post World War II era there have been several highly publicized, and often controversial, cases of government officials having their security clearances revoked. These officials include:
