Decided to go this same route. I never got an email about being on the Cleared Candidate list though. Just got an email that my investigation was done and to send an updated resume right before the hiring freeze. I reached out to a contractor and luckily, they’re able to see my clearance. We’ll see how long it takes to transfer over.
On a side note, the agency told me that we have 1 year to get read in or we lose it, but because of these unprecedented times, security will extend that out up to an additional 6 months. Not sure if that’s only as a direct hire or if they would do that for contractor work.
I somewhat gave up on MD and am attempting to do a contracting gig with the other IC. Currently doing clearance crossover and will see if they accept me with a CCL…
Yep! Passed my Poly back on 04/29 and last week my security officer told me I was conditionally approved and that I needed to go complete RAPBACK. Hopefully my full approval is coming soon!
I’ve actually been wondering about that; their portal references the DOD memo/freeze specifically and the executive order states that national security positions are exempt and then I’m pretty sure most of the agency are Excepted service which i thought gives a bit more agency to hiring…
I wonder if we’ll see any movement or changes in the following weeks far as hiring or advertising positions.
Well, I learned from the freeze in March that although the memo states that national security positions are exempt… the positions and names go to the Sec Def for review and acceptance. If he determines the need is not there (for instance in business and acquisitions, or in Infrastructure and logistics)… then he will not approve those people or positions under a waiver to be onboarded. You will have to just wait for the freeze to lift.
I would not anticipate any real changes happening until the new budget is approved for the next FY, and we enter it. (My own opinion)
Can’t hire anyone if there is no money to hire because they are more concerned now with cuts. I knew the extension was going to be pushed like this. It would not have made any sense to lift the freeze in July without a new budget.
What i think is a little interesting, is that media and the WH claim that the numbers for jobless are the lowest they have ever been… but of course they are, you kept all those forced to retire on the payroll until 1 Oct. We wont see the true numbers affected until 2026, when all those forced retirees no longer get that continuous paycheck, and instead recieve their buyout/pension… then they will be seeking work.
The same thing happened when states allowed so many people to claim unemployment thru covid… why go back to work right away if you keep getting paid from the government to sit around.
I say that though, and again I am sure we will see more unemployed in 2026, and an extremely competitive job market of cleared individuals. So for the moment I would advise anyone that can get a decent job/wage as a CTR to position themselves that way.
Worst case: the Agency decides to drop those who were suppossed to process in March - Oct., and claim they have to post jobs over fresh again for the new FY.. then at least you have grounded yourself with a decent wage before the flood gates of highly qualified individuals take the good paying CTR jobs.
Just my 2 cents and some rambling there… believe me, I’m not liking my “worst case” assessment there, but I am a realist and a planner.
Apparently, I failed cross over to contracting. They was saying I had “unadjudicated information” and wouldn’t give me anything more than that. I assume this means that I won’t be able to contract anywhere else either. I’m probably just going private this point lol
“Unadjudicated information” means you have something open in Scattered Castles. If you want more information, you need to file a privacy act request on your clearance in Scattered Castles. This can be done by emailing DNI and the information can be found on their website. Once you receive your records, you will see where the open investigation is.
There is some good news. “Unadjudicated Information” only effects Scattered Castles. If you have a clearance posted in DISS, your clearance is still usable in that database. You can still use your clearance as a contractor as long as the job uses DISS to hold your clearance.