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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Is substantial personal indebtedness grounds for denying a security clearance?

By Angela Marsh
YES

At all levels of government service and the military, debt is a major factor in assessing eligibility for security clearances. Guidelines from the Director of National Intelligence, the top intelligence role, note that debt issues raise multiple questions about an individual's overall reliability and susceptibility to outside pressures. A large debt load could also imply poor self-control or an unwillingness to play by the rules. Investigations consider the origins of the debt and the holder's plans and ability to repay it.

In 2018, the President ordered continuous credit monitoring for federal employees in national security-related roles. Previously, after passing an initial credit check an employee had been subject to follow-up checks at intervals of five to ten years.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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