I have a few questions and would appreciate some help and insights.
I’m a USG employee with a TS//SCI w/ a poly. Last month, security personnel at the USG agency suspended my access to classified information and SCI eligibility for various infractions I self-reported. I’m in the process of applying for jobs to hold me over until I receive a determination of reinstatement or revocation from security and was wondering if and how I should reflect my security clearance status to prospective employers because I’ve seen folks say the suspension of access is not the same as suspension of eligibility.
1A) Should I reflect to employers that I have a TS//SCI w/ poly or Top-Secret w/ Poly, OR am I eligible for TS//SCI? I’m confused by my agency’s suspended access to classified info and SCI language because it doesn’t seem that my clearance is suspended; just my access while they conclude.
1B) Is my access to classified information just suspended temporarily at that specific USG agency, and say, could my eligibility be turned back on if I were picked up by a contractor working for a separate USG agency?
My security POC told me my case was reviewed by security leadership 2 weeks ago, but I’ve yet to hear back. I assume I’m in adjudication if it’s being reviewed by leadership. I know it’s case by case, but is adjudication for access suspensions handled more quickly for federal employees? I’m optimistic my case will be adjudicated favorably, and I’ll be reinstated because I self-reported the infractions. Still, I’m in a weird place of looking for jobs because I know my case could be stuck in adjudication for months.
I know absolutely nothing more about your case than what you wrote, but I predict with high confidence that you will be reinstated… however it may take some times. Think “weeks” not “days.” And weeks can turn in to months (as you already noted).
Actually I should make one clarification: what I said is based on the assumption that you are on some kind of administrative leave or working only in unclassified areas… is that correct?
Regarding your other question, I doubt anyone will be able to pick up your clearance at this time as your suspension will almost certainly show up as some kind of “incident.”
Hard to say for sure but I believe that this suspension would show up as an “incident” or “unadjudicated information” or something else that adds up to “not good.” This would probably prevent anyone from picking up the clearance easily even at the secret level.
So you have been suspended? It certainly sounds like a pattern of poor security practices so maybe that’s why they did the suspension.
If I get picked up by a company willing to sponsor a non-DHS clearance while I’m appealing an intent to revoke, could the company submit a request to re-adjudicate clearance and SCI access, request collateral Secret or Top Secret access, or could I process for a non-DHS clearance?
Follow-up background:
My organization, DHS, gave me a Notice of Determination (I believe it’s a SOR equivalent) stating their intent to revoke my clearance. They said “DHS is revoking your access to classified information and eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) as an employee with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)… based on Guideline K– Handling Protected Information” Further complicating this is I’m on JDA to a separate IC agency where I self-reported the incidents, and the IC agency stated they view the self-reports as minor infractions that didn’t require action. However, DHS seems to view this more seriously, despite none of the incidents occurring in a DHS space.
In hindsight, I rushed the suspension letter response by acknowledging the mistakes and expressing remorse but did not focus enough on mitigation. I’m working with a lawyer to appeal, and I believe I have a strong case to reinstate.
Oh man,
Wishing you well. Clearance lawyer is best bet. I’ve learned they are not rubber stamped revocations. They listen to mitigation. Past history plays a big role. Previous infractions? If your case is similar to anothers major breach…they may be trying to make an example of you. One could apply elsewhere but you need speak to the SOR equivalent. The last thing you would want is to try and hide that. Unusual to get the ban hammer on a first violation where re-education and training, new procedures, etc weren’t first attempted. Can you give non specific details about what happened? DHS has taken stringent actions as of late, walking people off, etc.
No incidents in my 9 year career prior to these incidents & I was not provided any formal ‘counseling/warning’ before the suspension. Compared to at colleague at the IC agency had 4 incidents of bringing in electronics within a year and they were provided a formal warning with a 1 year expiration date.
Thanks for the quick response! My 5-year reinvestigation was done in mid-2024 w/ no issue. Do you know if I’d be able to transfer the clearance/reinvestigation files or possibly process for a new clearance while I’m appealing?
I had 8 self-reported incidents within a year. I know it’s a lot, but I’m trying to portray that I worked a fast-paced & hectic mission while on detail. It’s not an excuse, but each morning, I rushed in because I briefed leadership & often had off-side meetings to end hectic days.
4 incidents of accidentally bringing in electronics.
3 accidentally taking printed cover sheets home along with Unclass info. For example, if there were 6 print jobs sent to the printer, a cover sheet was printed for each job. I’d sometimes lose the sheets in high-volume print jobs & rush out the door. The cover sheets at this agency have my abbreviated first name, last initial & time/location of print job. Not the normal “TS,” “S” sheet. Nonetheless, we’re supposed to burn bag the sheets. At DHS, cover sheets are not printed, so my first incident can be explained due to ignorance of the policy.
1 incident of printing restricted info to the printer. My leadership asked for it 10 mins before my morning brief. I asked around the office and they said it should be fine to print but I reported out of an abundance of caution. The IC agency was not worried about it.
I also think I messed up in my initial response to the suspension that some instances may or may not be explained by my ADHD, which I take medication for. However, DHS used it against me, stating I did not disclose whether it’s managed or the type of medication I’m on – all things they could have asked me. The clearance lawyer I’m working with suggested I do a psych eval; and the Dr. said my adhd is not a concern and is managed. So hopefully, that helps my case.
Okay, yeah, thats a lot. Death by a thousand cuts. I’m familiar with those printer cover sheets. Been cursed with a few of those as well. Normally I recommend over reporting. In the cases of the printer sheets…though possible policy indiscretion, hard to consider those as outright violations. Electronics? Had many. Did report those. Cell phones are a curse for government and contractor alike in secure environments. I’m an ADD medicated guy myself. I highly support the eval, and primary care to discuss new meds. A measure of this may be an undiagnosed sleep disorder (me!) By getting assessed, and new meds…this shows due diligence in getting after what possibly ails you and leads toward these type infractions. A lot of sleep meds cross over into ADD ADHD territory. Not stuff to make you sleep, rather stimulate the portion of the brain not firing correctly…which calms the mind. Gives order to disordered thoughts, sequences, pocket checks, lunch box checks for ipods, etc. Retraining to just keep phone in car…helps. provigil, sunosi, nuvigil, ritalin are enormous help. My deputy could recognize the signs my mind was slipping back and would ask “did you take your meds?” She was always right. We…dont see it till we feel it. Too late. By then we overlooked coversheets, printer pages, ipod, cell phone etc. We have “fast brain” and need slow it down as we are off and running to the next task…before taking 100% focus on cover sheets. Lawyer is giving great advice. I would also redo cyber security and derivative training CBTs. Demonstrate you are digging in to do all you can do. Have a same cleared office mate shuffle papers to check for material, etc. Keep us posted.I dont think anyone will pick you up until this is resolved and documented. So appeal, and deal with medical…appeal again if possible. New meds, new training, new approaches…speak highly in your favor. 8…is going to be hard to explain away otherwise. There is risk there. Even when non intentional.
This is really helpful insight and context! I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I didn’t think of the undiagnosed sleep disorder, I’ll look into that. And the ‘fast brain’ is real! Regarding the cover sheets, my supervisor told me I shouldn’t have reported them so I’m hoping I can get the violations down to 4-5 incidents.
I have a few things hopefully going in my favor: 1) I redid the security training a week before the suspension; 2) I coincidentally got an increase in my ADHD meds a few weeks before they suspended my clearance and the doctor’s note states I requested an increase to ‘sharpen my focus;’ 3) the ‘hectic’ mission-space I worked concluded toward the end of 2024 and 5 of the self-reports occurred in 2024 – the Dr’s psych eval stated evaluated stress due to the situational time period working the problem set 4) No incidents for almost a year due to improved routine before and after leaving office 5) I got character references regarding my diligence to protect information.
I’m hoping the current environment at DHS does not factor into their decision-making. Regardless of how it plays out, it’ll be helpful to level-set with potential employers while I’m appealing.
You are on the right path. Current environments…need to reduce size of fedcivs (me included) all lean towards revocation. But that isnt the end. Appeals are fairly adjudicated. Anything, and everything you are doing speaking towards future better practice, policy, procedure is a good thing. Ensure your finances are squared away…demonstrate improvement in all adjudicative areas, and you have a solid case. I agree the funny cover sheets, annoying, are not classified. Taking out is not “best practice” but there is nothing classified there and I too would not report those and feel confident I was acting with integrity. The government knows there is a massive cell phone problem. Countless secure conferences…somebody rings…human nature.
Another weird question: A company looked me up in scatter castles and told me today that my TS is active, but my SCI eligibility is showing ‘debriefed’ and that I have a Full Scope poly from the FBI. I thought I only had a CI-poly with DHS and didn’t know I had FS… I was processing with the Bureau last year but declined to go forward. Could it be that DHS just suspended/revoked my SCI and left my Top Secret intact? I’ve asked my security folks at DHS a few times, but candidly, they’re not helpful and give me a canned answer of ‘it’s suspended’ with no other specificity.
So clients “own” their SCI. At any moment they lose faith or feel a violation occurred, they can read you out…or just sign it as admin debriefed. I suspect this is what happened as they usually will tell you we are taking this action due to…X. Moving forward I would speak to this in any clearance update. For the poly…If they asked questions from every section on the 86 or if it went 4 to 6 hours…full scope.
Thanks. A separate private sector role I’m going for said it’d be nice to have eligibility for a DOD TS – so in theory, is it correct to say that my TS is currently active? If the company wants to pick up the TS, can they just pull it from SC, or would they have to send a reciprocity request to DHS?
And re: the poly, the FBI told me I passed the CI portion but was inconclusive for the lifestyle part. So I’m unsure why it’s showing I have a full scope, but I’ll take it if true! This is all so confusing. I appreciate your insight.
If your current SCI access is ‘suspended’ then that’s where you stand right now. I went back and read through this thread, sounds like you are still in a ‘suspended’ status. Is it like a suspension with intent to revoke? Have you been informed of an opportunity to appeal?
From where I’m sitting (out here somewhere on the internet) it sounds like you need to sort out this suspension before you can move forward.
Thanks for the review. That is correct. However, I’m trying to figure out whether my SCI is suspended alone or if it’s both my SCI + TS. If I still have a TS, it’d be much easier for me to find a job in the interim. Depsite applying for non-cleared jobs, my resume is typically re-routed for cleared positions. I’ve been on a non-paid status for 3 months, and I imagine it could be months or a year until this is resolved
If you are work8ng in a cleared space…TS is active or someone is not paying attention. I have seen SCIs revoked due to no misconduct, but close relations with foreign national. You can easily survive the SCI pull. If the TS remains active or under appeal I would not jump ship. It would leave you with unadjudicated info and no action moving it forward. I know you want a paycheck, we all do…but this needs play out. If revoked, appeal. Not the best situation to be in. Be honest on applying for future cleared jobs. If they will clear you…they will adjudicate your standing.