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Friday, Oct. 2, 2020

Is substantial personal indebtedness grounds for denying a security clearance?

Angela Marsh, Gigafact
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.

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