Federal Agency Clearance Requirements

Federal agencies share a common set of national standards for security clearances, but each agency decides which positions require a clearance and runs its own adjudication. This page outlines what is common across agencies and where the Department of Defense (DoD), the intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tend to differ.

What Is the Same Across Agencies

• Adjudicative standards: Eligibility is decided under the 13 guidelines in Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4), using the whole-person concept.
• Clearance levels: Access to classified information is granted at Confidential, Secret or Top Secret. Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) is an additional eligibility determination for Top Secret-level work.
• The application: Applicants complete the Standard Form 86 (SF-86), the Questionnaire for National Security Positions, through the electronic system their agency uses.
• Investigation: The depth of the background investigation depends on the clearance level, with the more extensive investigation used for Top Secret and SCI access.

Department of Defense

DoD positions and contractor positions supported by DoD use these standards. Most DoD investigations are conducted through the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Contractor cases that reach a Statement of Reasons are handled by the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA).

Intelligence Community Agencies

Agencies such as the CIA and NSA apply the same SEAD 4 guidelines but typically add agency-specific steps. These commonly include additional interviews and a polygraph examination as a condition of employment or access. Processing is conducted by the agency itself, and timelines and procedures are set by the agency.

Department of Homeland Security

DHS positions range from public trust positions to Secret and Top Secret positions. A public trust determination is a suitability or fitness decision for a sensitive position, not a security clearance. It considers factors such as criminal history, financial responsibility and drug or alcohol use under a related but separate standard.

What This Means for Applicants

• Confirm which determination your position requires, and who adjudicates it.
• Expect the same disclosure obligations on the SF-86 regardless of agency. Accuracy and completeness matter in every case.
• If your clearance is denied or revoked, the appeal route depends on your status as a federal employee, military member or contractor, and on the agency involved.

Seeking Legal Assistance

A security clearance lawyer can help you understand the process that applies to your agency and prepare for it, or respond if a concern is raised.

The standards are shared, but the process is agency-specific. Knowing which agency adjudicates your case, and which procedures apply to your status, is the first step in planning a response.