Those who may come in contact with classified material must first undergo a security clearance investigation.
Civilian employees of the government, private contractors and military personnel whose jobs put them in contact with sensitive government information must undergo a security clearance investigation before being allowed access to protected information. There are five levels of clearance and only one agency -- the Defense Security Service (DSS) -- that performs the investigations.
Applicable Agencies
Although the DSS performs the investigations, only federal agencies requesting the clearance may grant clearance. Government law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service and Drug Enforcement Agency may require their employees to undergo a security clearance investigation. Other organizations requiring security investigations for employees include intelligence-gathering and national security agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The State Department and private companies doing business with the government may also request security clearances.
Levels of Clearance
The different types of security clearances (in order of severity) are Confidential: for employees with access to information that could be damaging to national security if leaked; Secret, which grants access to information that could inflict serious damage; Top Secret which grants access to information that could result in grave damage; Sensitive Compartmented Information: which grants access to intelligence that is usually handled through "compartmented channels" and Special Access Programs: which grants access to information for which special protective programs have been established that are beyond usual high-level security.
Questionnaire
To obtain any level of clearance, the subject must first fill out a Security Clearance Background Investigation Questionnaire, which asks about the applicant's background, including criminal history, places of residence, substance abuse history and employment history. For Confidential and Secret designations, the history is limited to five years, for Top Secret and above, the questionnaire goes back ten years. Answering falsely on the questionnaire is a serious crime, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Confidential and Secret Levels
The level of detail and comprehensiveness of the DSS investigation depends on the level of clearance the applicant is seeking. In addition to the questionnaire, an investigation for Confidential and Secret clearance designations includes a computerized check of federal records held by agencies, including the FBI and the Office of Personnel Management. A review of local law enforcement records in applicable jurisdictions and a check on personal credit history is also included.
Top Secret and Above
In addition to the information required for Confidential and Secret clearances, Top Secret and higher clearance investigations include interviews with references, friends, employers, coworkers, teachers and neighbors. A review of employment, court and home rental office records is also conducted, and finally, an interview with the applicant himself. Generally, interviewers want to know about the subject's personal character and whether he has a history of financial, substance abuse or other personal problems that could affect his trustworthiness or loyalty.
