I currently work for TSA (started in January 2022). I was 24 (I’m currently 26). When doing my sf86 I put that I have not used drugs within the last 7 years which was not true as the last time I used them was in 2020 during college. The only drug I ever tried was marijuana if that matters. I wasn’t even lying because I was trying to prevent tsa from knowing because I was afraid I wouldn’t get the job but it was because my parents were helping me fill it out and they didn’t know I smoked and I didn’t want to disappoint them and get in a fight because they are really strict about that stuff so I just put no not even thinking about the consequences. I truly didn’t know how severe it was to lie on one of those forms as it was my first real job and now I am in the process of going through the CBP and the USSS applications which both have a polygraph. I know they don’t care that I used marijuana but they care that I lied. I’m freaking out now because I don’t want a stupid mistake that I wasn’t even really thinking about to ruin my entire career and I don’t know if I should just stop doing the applications and stay with tsa forever which I really don’t want to do. Or if I should just come out and tell them that I lied on my past sf86. Will I lose my current job at tsa? And is there actually any chance that Cbp or usss looks past that. I past my initial drug test for tsa and a drug test I received while working and haven’t used any drugs since 2020.
Time should mitigate the drug usage. But the bigger concern is your intent to cover up your drug usage (for whatever reason). That indicates vulnerability to blackmail or coercion. You would probably be considered a high risk applicant if the adjudicators find out about it. If you do tell them, you may want to “rephrase” your explanation.
When you say time should mitigate the lying, are you saying I should wait longer before applying? And when you say if I do tell them I may want to rephrase my explanation, what should I say. Also do I really have a choice not to tell them? And do you think that if I get turned down tsa will find out and fire me from my current job?
Sorry, that should have been “drug usage.” Fixed.
If drug usage was the only issue, it sounds like it’s been long enough. I don’t think they consider light M usage while not cleared to be that big of a deal.
What they don’t like is ongoing lying (2 years and you’ve never told them yet, right?). This indicates the issue is “you feel guilty about something and are hiding it.” They will probably see that as a vulnerability and that is what they will look at. I’m not sure anything you say will help until you can take accountability.
That’s up to you. You have 2 options, both of which come with risks: 1. Say nothing (hope if they haven’t discovered it out by now, they never will). Or 2. Tell them and hope they accept your explanation and give you a chance to mitigate.
Whatever you do, you probably should discuss with an attorney first.
If they suspend/revoke your clearance, it’s possible. But you can appeal if they do.
The only problem is if I don’t say anything I know they will probably find out if they ask about drug use on the polygraph. I want to just tell the truth but I’m just worried that I’ll get fired from my current job because then I really don’t know what I’ll do. Do you have any opinion on what you think the best option is? I don’t want to have to stay with tsa but I also don’t want to lose my current job while trying to move on to a better one
More than probably. And probably before your poly.
I’m not an expert. If you’re that concerned, you can contact an attorney or wait for an adjudicator to chime in on here. I would get lawyered up if I were you.
Alright thanks for your help.
Keep in mind that one of the questions we specifically ask during your background investigation interview for CPB is if you have ever intentionally falsified or omitted information information on any security forms or lied to any background investigators or security officials, so…
I don’t plan on lying again about it but Is there a chance that if I come clean and tell them that they look past it? Or should I just not waste my time. I don’t want to jeopardize my current job
I don’t think the problem will be the drugs. Lying on your SF-86 demonstrates beyond all doubt that you will lie if it suits you. That is a huge hurdle to overcome in my view.
If you choose to not move forward with this new job, what happens when it is time to renew your clearance and you have to complete a new SF-86. Will you lie again on that one too?
You really only have 2 options. The first one is to tell the truth and risk having your clearance revoked. The second one is to maintain the lie and hope no one ever finds out.
If you opt for the first option, it will come with short term risk. You have a decent chance of losing your clearance, and the government really detests lying so much so that it will always come up as a issue if you ever apply again for a clearance. Getting another clearance after it has been revoked for lying is extremely difficult because it completely violates the trust the government has in you. There is a slight chance you can get another clearance after it has been revoked due to lying, but that is years away. You should also note that once applicants are found that they lied on their security paperwork, the government does not give them a clearance again due to lying. Lying is THE thing that the government does not tolerate no matter the circumstances.
The second option has the most long term risk. You must maintain the lie that you have never done drugs for the rest of your career. This includes lying on your own personal medical forms, because the government will check those as part of your background investigation. If they see that you marked “No” to any drug use questions on your SF-86, but then see you marked “Yes” to drug use on medical forms, this looks like you not telling the truth and you will be questioned over the inconsistency. Also, during your background investigation, the people who know you well will be asked what they know you about. If they all say that they know you have done drugs, it will be harder to disprove that allegation and you risk being accused of lying about drug use.
Do you think there is any chance that coming clean will benefit me? Like is it possible to keep my clearance and obtain this new job? Should I tell my current job I lied or just tell the truth on the new sf86? I don’t want to risk losing my current job because I don’t have a backup plan and if I continue to lie then I will have to beat a poly and I’m not sure if that’s possible. I really don’t know what to do and I’m so mad I made the mistake of being dishonest the first time through but I really didn’t understand the severity of the form as this is my first federal job.
I’m not sure what to do. That’s the problem. I’ve spoken to a couple attorneys and one told me to stop my application and wait until it’s been 7 years since I last used drugs and then look into applying to the new job. and the other one told me to self report myself to my current job. If I lie again on this new job that means I will have to beat the poly which realistically I don’t think is possible. Plus I don’t really want this lie following me around. When I did my previous sf86 I had no guidance when filling it out and I didn’t know the impact the form had and the severity of lying on it. Until I read more into later and now I’m in a hole and trying to get out of it because I don’t want this stupid mistake i made to ruin my career. So all in all I don’t know what I should do.
Here is the funny thing about polygraphs. Your polygrapher lies during most of the session. They demand you tell the truth and punish you for telling the truth while they lie to you with impunity. Don’t be afraid of the polygraph. If you browse this blog, you will find some information about the polygraph that shows what the polygraph really is.
The polygraph only catches people who self-snitch on themselves, just remember that.
The first attorney seems to have missed the biggest concern which is lying, in my opinion. I believe the process “requires” you to self report. Will you lose your job if you do? Maybe, but it probably won’t be because of the marijuana use.
If you do not self-report, and you don’t apply for a higher level clearance in the next seven years, you can fill out your next SF-86 honestly. However, in that case, I think you will need to be sure you don’t ever apply for a job that requires a poly. Otherwise this will almost certainly impact your test results then.
So you think I have a better chance of getting a new job by beating the poly rather then coming out and telling the truth?
It sounds like you think you’re effed either way so just proceed with that mind-set. If you ignore and they catch it, you will be blind-sided. If you self-report, you get to control the timing and can be prepared for it. Either way, assume that your clearance will be suspended/revoked and work off of that. If that happens, you can appeal. If it doesn’t great.
If you self-report, don’t just “consult” with an attorney. Hire one from start to finish. They will help you self-report then handle your appeal.
If the government finds out themselves (or through your admissions during polygraph or interview), your career in that field would most likely be over for a while.
If you come clean now and self-report, you mitigate some blackmail possibility, and you won’t have to worry about it in future investigations or polygraph sessions because you already came clean.
My advice:
If you are about to fill in a new SF-86, put the truth on there this time around, and let the chips fall where they may.
If you are waiting before your new applications, I would self-report to your current security office. It might take a while for the government to adjudicate that new issue, however they might keep you on the payroll while they render their decision.
I’m currently in the process of a new job but have not gotten to the sf86 form yet. You think I should self report myself to my current job first ? And do you know what my chances are of keeping my current job. Like do I have a chance or am I completely screwed. And let’s say I do keep my job. Is it possible that I will be able to get another job with a Top Secret or Secret clearance even though I have previously lied on my first sf86?