Category Archives: Security Clearance
How Your Sexual History Can Affect Your Security Clearance
When the Department of Defense reviews an application for a security clearance in Maryland, it does not just examine the applicant’s professional history. The government also looks deep into the applicant’s personal history, including his or her “sexual behavior.” This includes sexual behavior where a criminal offense occurs, such as prostitution, but it also… Read More »
Does a Negative Job Reference on a Security Clearance Application Constitute “Defamation”?
Obtaining a security clearance is often a stressful process. Even the slightest blemish on your record, or question about your character, may raise suspicions and ultimately lead to the denial (or revocation) of a clearance. For these reasons, it is important to ensure that you maintain a good work history and employment record. Maryland… Read More »
Can Unresolved Financial Issues from My Divorce Impact My Security Clearance?
Delinquent debts are frequently cited as a reason by government agencies to deny or revoke a security clearance. The source of the debt is less important than identifying what positive steps the security clearance applicant took to “mitigate” any security concerns raised by his or her financial problems. This means that if your job… Read More »
Could My Social Drinking Affect My Security Clearance?
There are many personal vices or habits that can make it more difficult to obtain a security clearance. For example, under Department of Defense (DOD) guidelines, a person’s “excessive alcohol consumption” may be cited as grounds to deny a security clearance, as such drinking “often leads to the exercise of questionable judgment or the… Read More »
I Forgot to File My Tax Return. Will This Hurt My Ability to Get a Security Clearance?
One of the major reasons individuals have difficulty obtaining or retaining a security clearance is what the Department of Defense (DOD) labels “financial considerations.” Typically, this involves situations where the applicant has a lot of outstanding debts. If you have trouble paying your bills on-time, the DOD sees that as a sign that you… Read More »
Does My Country of Birth Matter When It Comes to Getting a Security Clearance?
When it comes to everyday civilian employment, the country of your birth is largely irrelevant. Indeed, federal civil rights laws prohibit most employers from denying you a job on the basis of national origin. But for military and defense contractor positions that require a security clearance, that is not the case. One of the… Read More »
Could Medical Debts Cost Me a Security Clearance?
We have all heard horror stories about medical debt destroying a family’s finances. The U.S. spends more per person on healthcare than any developed nation on earth. And even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, medical debt still forces thousands of Americans to seek bankruptcy protection every year. Medical debt can also… Read More »
Does the Government Have to Give a Specific Reason for Denying Me a Security Clearance?
Many low-level private sector jobs require security clearances, including airline baggage handlers. Such personnel require a security clearance to access restricted areas under the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). And under CBP regulations, there are dozens of grounds for denying a clearance, mostly related to cases where the employee committed a… Read More »
Will an Accidental Lie or Omission Doom My Security Clearance Chances?
Honesty is the best policy. That is more than common sense. When it comes to applying for a federal government security clearance, honesty is your only option. Any lie, error, or omission in your security clearance application (SCA) can–and will–be used as grounds to deny you a clearance. Even if you only lied by… Read More »
Can the Pentagon Discriminate Against Naturalized U.S. Citizens When It Comes to Reviewing Security Clearances?
As a general rule the federal courts do not intervene in security clearance decisions. The reason for this is fairly straightforward: Security clearances are a privilege, not a constitutional right, and the executive branch has wide discretion when it comes to deciding who should have access to sensitive information. That said, the government’s discretion… Read More »
