By Ronald C. Sykstus I have had a number of cases where security clearance applicants, prior to them ever getting to me, have completed their SF 86 and have either lied, misstated, fibbed or obfuscated with the truth on their SF 86 answer. The problem with that is that if the government ever denies a clearance based upon issues like these, a security clearance applicant very well may never get a clearance in the future. If a clearance is denied at the lower level or after an administrative judge hearing, applicants can apply again for clearance in the year, as long as they’re sponsored by an ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus The basis for issuing a security clearance in our country is predicated on full, open disclosure and detailed vetting. With that said, I always advise security clearance applicants that, if the government discovers that you have lied or made a misstatement or misrepresentation on the SF 86 form (previously completed through the e-Qip system and soon through the NBIS eApp portal), it is highly unlikely that you will EVER qualify for a security clearance in the future. That can be seen as a harsh consequence, but it is the reality of how seriously the government views this ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus This is a recurrent ad for debt settlement companies that advertise services to help people resolve debts: “Call our 800 phone number now and we can negotiate with your creditors under a little-known government program that will reduce your credit card debt and it is the secret that the credit card companies don’t want you to know.” For anyone who has a credit card balance, and especially if they are falling behind on their credit card payments, this sounds very enticing. As the saying goes, however, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I have been practicin ..read more

3-Part article series about the current state of the Security Clearance process National security at 'high risk' as 'old school' methods degrade government security practices Digital illustration by Roxanne Cooper/Midjourney How the government's social media screening fails to flag extremists from within Digital image by Roxanne Cooper / Midjourney Why violent extremists get security clearances — but people of color must sometimes wait and wait Digital image by Roxanne Cooper / Midjourney Security Clearance ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus If get a Statement of Reasons (SOR) from the government that says it wants to revoke or deny your security clearance, this is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. Without a clearance and if your employer does not have any available non-classified work for you to do, then a revocation or denial of a security clearance will result in the loss of the job. With that said, if you do receive a SOR, don’t panic. Take a beat and collect yourself. You do have options and rights in order to defend yourself. As an aside, don’t discuss your worries or the government’s ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus Every time there is a public breach of security, there is a resulting flurry of news about how the clearance system is too loose and too many people have access to classified material. According to this article, nearly 3 million Americans. have a security clearance, while about 1.2 million have access to information that is considered top secret. The recent breach, however, feels different insofar as how a low ranking enlisted national guardsman was allegedly able to access and disseminate a great deal of very sensitive and top secret national security information to his ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus This is an area of concern for security clearance applicants where one would think that there really wouldn’t be much of an issue. In fact, it can be so problematic that I have seen a number of situations where it has prohibited an individual from ever getting a security clearance. The SF 86/e-Qip that needs to be completed when someone is sponsored for a security clearance is the start point of where this issue arises. The instructions under the employment activity section say this: “List all of your employment activities, including unemployment and self-employment, beg ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus Over the last three years or so, I have seen a marked increase in people who hold or are trying to get security clearances running into issues as they relate to psychological conditions. The guideline that controls security clearances references, under psychological conditions, that certain emotional, mental, and personality conditions can impair judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness. A formal diagnosis of the disorder is not required for there to be a concern under this guideline. A positive note under this guideline states that “no negative inference concerning the ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus I have written previously about “Continuous Evaluation” (CE) for everyone who holds a security clearance which allows access to classified information. One of the issues that I have seen lately is individuals with clearances getting criminally charged with federal or state offenses. What should you do if you hold a security clearance and find that you are charged or have pending criminal charges in federal or state court? First and foremost, collect yourself and try to relax. Don’t talk to ANYONE about your situation. Coupled with that, find a good lawyer to represent yo ..read more

By Ronald C. Sykstus Anyone who holds a security clearance is aware that the “renewal” for the clearance is every ten years for a secret and every five years for a top secret. I wrote previously about the big and new change regarding the use of artificial intelligence and continuous evaluations of security clearance holders. Big Changes in the Security Clearance World | Bond & Botes Law Offices That change is now here and it is officially in place. According to the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, “the CES is an information technology (IT) system that conducts automated ..read more