DOD Background Check Disqualifiers: What Denies Security Clearance

Understanding the DOD Security Clearance Background Check Process

The defense contractor security clearance process represents one of the most rigorous employment vetting procedures in the United States. It examines every aspect of an applicant's personal, financial, and professional history. Defense contractors must navigate this complex system when hiring personnel for positions requiring access to classified information or sensitive defense facilities.

SEAD-4 Adjudicative Guidelines Framework

Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD-4) establishes the national security adjudicative guidelines that govern all federal background investigations for clearance determinations. This framework replaced the previous adjudicative guidelines in June 2017. It introduced a more holistic "whole person" evaluation approach that considers both disqualifying and mitigating factors across 13 distinct criteria.

Adjudicators weigh the nature, extent, and seriousness of conduct against factors like rehabilitation evidence, time passage since incidents, and the applicant's demonstrated reliability in subsequent years. This approach means that no single factor automatically disqualifies an applicant. Context and mitigation efforts significantly influence final determinations.

Clearance Levels and Investigation Depth

Three primary clearance levels exist within the DOD system: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Each requires progressively more intensive background investigations. The investigation depth directly correlates with scrutiny intensity and denial rates.

Confidential and Secret clearances typically involve Tier 3 investigations (formerly NACLC). Top Secret clearances require Tier 5 investigations (formerly SSBI) that include extensive interviews with references, neighbors, employers, and associates. Defense contractors should understand these distinctions when planning hiring timelines and resource allocation.

Timeline Expectations for Defense Contractors

Background check processing times fluctuate based on investigation complexity, backlog levels, and applicant history factors. As of 2025, median processing times average 90-120 days for Secret clearances and 180-240 days for Top Secret clearances. Complex cases with foreign contacts or extensive financial issues may extend beyond 18 months.

HR professionals should build these timelines into hiring projections. Consider interim clearance possibilities for candidates with straightforward backgrounds who can begin work while final determinations remain pending. This strategy helps minimize productivity losses during the extended waiting periods.

Financial Issues: The Most Common DOD Background Check Disqualifiers

Security clearance financial requirements constitute Guideline F within SEAD-4. They represent the leading cause of clearance denials across all contractor populations. Adjudicators scrutinize financial conduct because financial vulnerability creates potential coercion opportunities that adversaries might exploit to compromise classified information.

Debt Thresholds and Delinquency Patterns

What disqualifies you from DOD clearance in the financial category isn't necessarily the total debt amount. Rather, it's the pattern of financial irresponsibility and current delinquency status. Adjudicators look for red flags that suggest an inability or unwillingness to meet financial obligations.

The following debt situations typically trigger significant concern during adjudication:

• Unresolved collection accounts: Charge-offs exceeding $5,000 or any delinquent accounts totaling more than $10,000 create presumptive disqualifying conditions.
• Multiple creditor lawsuits: Active legal proceedings from creditors indicate severe financial mismanagement requiring immediate attention.
• Wage garnishments: Court-ordered salary withholdings demonstrate inability to voluntarily resolve debts and suggest potential vulnerability.
• Tax liens: Federal, state, or local tax liens filed within the past three years carry heightened significance due to civic responsibility concerns.

These factors don't automatically result in denial. However, they require substantial mitigation evidence including payment plans, financial counseling completion, and demonstrated changed behavior over 12-24 months.

Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Considerations

Chapter 7 bankruptcies discharged within the past two years or Chapter 13 bankruptcies still in active repayment status don't automatically disqualify applicants. However, they require thorough explanation and evidence of changed financial behavior. Foreclosures completed within the previous three years similarly demand demonstration that the circumstances were beyond the applicant's control.

Security clearance mitigation strategies for bankruptcy situations should emphasize the underlying causes rather than the bankruptcy itself. Medical emergencies, divorce, unexpected job loss, or other circumstances beyond the applicant's control provide context. Documentation showing current financial stability through budgets, credit counseling completion, emergency fund establishment, and consistent savings patterns strengthens mitigation arguments considerably.

Tax Compliance and Child Support Obligations

Federal, state, and local tax obligations carry heightened significance in clearance adjudications. Tax compliance represents a fundamental civic responsibility. Outstanding tax debts exceeding $5,000, failure to file required returns, or IRS liens filed within the past five years create presumptive disqualifying conditions.

Child support arrearages exceeding three months or totaling more than $5,000 demonstrate unwillingness to meet legal obligations. These raise serious questions about an applicant's reliability and trustworthiness regardless of other qualifications. Establishing payment plans and documenting consistent compliance over extended periods provides the strongest mitigation approach.

Foreign Influence and Foreign Preference Disqualifiers

Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference) address concerns about divided loyalties, potential coercion through foreign connections, and preferences for other nations over the United States. These categories have become increasingly scrutinized as near-peer adversary intelligence operations have intensified targeting of cleared defense contractor personnel. Understanding what disqualifies you from DOD clearance in the foreign influence category helps contractors make informed hiring decisions.

Foreign Family Members and Close Associates

Close and continuing contact with immediate family members who are foreign nationals—particularly those residing in or citizens of countries identified as intelligence threats—constitutes one of the most challenging disqualification issues to mitigate. Countries of heightened concern in 2025 include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and several others identified in annual threat assessments by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Even casual relationships with foreign nationals can create clearance obstacles when those individuals have connections to foreign governments, intelligence services, or defense industries. Applicants must provide detailed documentation about the frequency, nature, and circumstances of all contacts. The key factors adjudicators consider include contact frequency, the foreign country involved, the nature of the relationship, and whether foreign contacts have government connections.

Foreign Financial Interests and Property Ownership

Undisclosed foreign bank accounts, investment properties, business interests, or inheritances exceeding $5,000 in value create presumptive disqualifying conditions. They trigger concerns under both foreign influence and personal conduct guidelines. The DOD contractor eligibility requirements mandate full transparency about all foreign financial interests regardless of amount during the SF-86 completion process.

Applicants maintaining foreign property ownership or business partnerships face particular scrutiny regarding whether these interests could be used as leverage by foreign entities. Mitigation requires compelling evidence that U.S. interests would prevail in any conflict situation. Documentation showing minimal financial dependence on foreign assets, ability to liquidate interests without hardship, and longstanding U.S. financial ties strengthens clearance prospects.

Foreign Citizenship and Passport Possession

Dual citizenship status alone doesn't disqualify applicants from clearance eligibility. However, exercising privileges of foreign citizenship—particularly passport use for international travel—creates significant adjudication concerns. Actions demonstrating foreign preference include voting in foreign elections, serving in foreign militaries, accepting foreign government employment, or seeking foreign government benefits.

Security clearance mitigation strategies for foreign preference issues typically require formal renunciation of foreign citizenship or, at minimum, documented surrender of foreign passports to facility security officers. Written statements affirming U.S. loyalty primacy accompany these actions. The more definitively an applicant can demonstrate exclusive allegiance to the United States, the stronger their clearance application becomes.

Criminal Conduct and Legal Violations

Guideline J addresses criminal behavior as an indicator of an individual's willingness to follow rules, exercise sound judgment, and maintain acceptable conduct standards. The defense contractor security clearance process examines both the nature of criminal conduct and evidence of rehabilitation when evaluating these disqualifiers. This whole-person approach means that even serious criminal history doesn't constitute an absolute bar when proper mitigation exists.

Felony Convictions and Incarceration History

Felony convictions within the past seven years create substantial disqualification presumptions. They require exceptional mitigation evidence to overcome, particularly for violent crimes, sexual offenses, or crimes involving dishonesty. Incarceration periods exceeding one year intensify concerns regardless of how much time has passed since release.

However, the whole-person concept means that genuine rehabilitation can overcome even serious criminal history. Applicants can demonstrate rehabilitation through education completion, stable employment history spanning multiple years, community service participation, counseling or therapy completion, and substantial time passage without incident—typically 7-10 years minimum for felony-level offenses. Character references from employers, supervisors, clergy, or community leaders strengthen mitigation arguments significantly.

Misdemeanors, Domestic Violence, and Protective Orders

Multiple misdemeanor convictions within five years suggest patterns of poor judgment even when individual offenses appear minor. The cumulative effect of repeated minor violations raises more concern than a single incident. Domestic violence convictions carry particular weight due to federal firearms prohibitions and concerns about impulse control in high-stress environments.

Active protective orders or restraining orders—even civil rather than criminal—raise questions about interpersonal conduct and judgment that adjudicators scrutinize carefully. Defense contractors should recognize that dismissed or expunged charges still require disclosure during the SF-86 process. These remain visible to investigators reviewing court records. Failure to disclose dismissed charges can create personal conduct concerns that prove more serious than the underlying incident.

Pending Charges and Probation Status

What disqualifies you from DOD clearance includes pending criminal charges that remain unresolved at the time of adjudication. Final determinations typically cannot be made until legal proceedings conclude. This creates timing challenges for defense contractors with urgent hiring needs.

Active probation or parole status similarly creates adjudication complications. Clearance cannot be granted while an applicant remains under legal supervision for criminal conduct. Contractors should generally delay clearance sponsorship until applicants have successfully completed probation requirements and can document compliance with all court-ordered conditions. This approach substantially improves approval prospects and reduces wasted resources on premature applications.

Substance Abuse and Drug Involvement Disqualifiers

Guidelines H (Drug Involvement) and G (Alcohol Consumption) address substance abuse concerns that could impair judgment, reliability, or willingness to comply with rules and regulations. The security clearance appeals process sees significant activity in these categories because documented rehabilitation can effectively mitigate past substance issues. Understanding the specific thresholds and mitigation requirements helps contractors evaluate candidate eligibility realistically.

Illegal Drug Use Timelines and Patterns

Any illegal drug use while holding a security clearance constitutes a particularly serious disqualifying condition. It typically results in clearance revocation regardless of other factors. For applicants without previous clearances, marijuana use within the past 12 months creates significant concerns even in states where recreational use has been legalized. Federal law and DOD policy maintain prohibition regardless of state statutes.

The following timelines generally apply for drug involvement mitigation:

• Marijuana use: Requires 12-24 months of demonstrated abstinence before adjudicators will consider mitigation arguments favorably.
• Harder drugs: Cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, hallucinogens, or prescription drug abuse generally requires 24-36 months of abstinence.
• Drug use with clearance: May permanently disqualify applicants regardless of time passage due to the violation of trust.
• Drug distribution or manufacturing: Creates nearly insurmountable obstacles requiring exceptional circumstances and typically 5-10 years minimum.

Security clearance mitigation strategies should emphasize voluntary cessation, changed peer associations, drug testing compliance, and compelling reasons why future use is unlikely. Documentation from substance abuse professionals, negative drug test results, and statements from employers or family members strengthens mitigation packages significantly.

Alcohol-Related Incidents and Treatment History

DUI convictions within the past five years raise substantial concerns. Multiple DUI offenses create nearly insurmountable obstacles regardless of time passage. Alcohol-related domestic incidents, public intoxication arrests, or workplace problems attributed to drinking similarly trigger intensive scrutiny.

Diagnosed alcohol use disorders followed by successful treatment completion and sustained sobriety demonstrate rehabilitation when supported by comprehensive documentation. Treatment provider letters, attendance records from support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, and statements from employers or supervisors attesting to behavioral changes create persuasive mitigation arguments. Most adjudicators expect minimum 12-month sobriety periods post-treatment before viewing mitigation evidence as sufficient.

Prescription Drug Misuse and Medical Marijuana

Prescription medication abuse constitutes drug involvement under Guideline H adjudication. Using medications not prescribed to you, taking higher doses than prescribed, or using prescriptions for non-medical purposes all qualify as drug involvement. These violations often surprise applicants who don't realize that prescription medication misuse carries the same weight as illegal drug use.

Medical marijuana authorization cards or prescriptions don't provide clearance protection regardless of state laws. Federal prohibition remains the applicable standard for security clearance determinations. Defense contractors should clearly communicate to candidates that medical marijuana users must choose between cannabis use and clearance eligibility. Documented cessation is required before investigation initiation, with 12-24 months of abstinence improving approval prospects substantially.

Additional High-Risk DOD Background Check Disqualifiers

Beyond the most common categories, several other adjudicative guidelines create frequent clearance obstacles. HR professionals and security officers should understand these when pre-screening candidates. Each guideline addresses specific concerns about an applicant's reliability, trustworthiness, and loyalty to the United States.

Personal Conduct and Dishonesty Issues

Guideline E addresses personal conduct concerns, with deliberate falsification or omission of material facts on security clearance applications representing one of the most serious disqualifiers. It's often impossible to mitigate regardless of what information was concealed. Even minor omissions that appear deliberate can result in denial because trustworthiness forms the foundation of the clearance system.

Sexual behavior involving criminal conduct, public incidents, or vulnerability to coercion also falls under this guideline. Contractors should emphasize to applicants that disclosure of unfavorable information—while potentially concerning—is infinitely preferable to discovery of undisclosed issues during investigation. The cover-up creates more problems than the underlying conduct in nearly all cases.

Security Violations and Handling Infractions

Previous security violations constitute Guideline K concerns that receive intense scrutiny. Violations involving unauthorized disclosure of classified information, improper storage of sensitive materials, or circumvention of security protocols create serious obstacles. Even minor infractions like failing to secure a safe or leaving classified materials unattended can derail clearance applications when they occurred recently or demonstrated a pattern.

Mitigation requires documented remedial training completion, demonstrated behavior changes, and typically 3-5 years of incident-free handling of sensitive information. Character references from security officers or facility security managers who can attest to improved security consciousness strengthen mitigation packages. The more time that passes without additional violations, the less weight adjudicators assign to historical incidents.

Technology Misuse and Cyber Violations

Guideline M addresses information technology misuse, an increasingly relevant category as cyber threats have proliferated. Unauthorized access to computer systems, software piracy, excessive personal use of government systems, or introduction of malicious code all create disqualification risks. Social media posts containing classified or sensitive information, even if inadvertent, raise serious questions about judgment and discretion.

Defense contractors should implement clear technology use policies and provide training to candidates about social media hygiene before clearance applications begin. Proactive education about what constitutes technology misuse prevents many violations. Candidates should review their social media presence, remove potentially concerning content, and understand that investigators will examine all publicly available information during background investigations.

Severity Rankings and Risk Assessment Frameworks

HR professionals and security officers benefit from structured approaches to evaluate candidates against DOD background check disqualifiers before investing resources in formal clearance sponsorship. Implementing systematic risk assessment frameworks enables data-driven decisions about which candidates warrant the substantial time and financial investment required for clearance processing. These frameworks should align with SEAD-4 whole-person concepts while providing practical guidance for pre-screening decisions.

Critical Disqualifiers (High Denial Probability)

Certain factors create 80%+ denial probabilities that warrant serious reconsideration of clearance sponsorship. These represent the highest-risk categories where even strong mitigation efforts rarely succeed without exceptional circumstances and extensive time passage. Defense contractors should carefully evaluate whether to proceed with applications when these factors exist.

Critical disqualifying factors include:

• Deliberate falsification: Intentional omissions or false statements on clearance applications create nearly insurmountable obstacles regardless of what was concealed.
• Drug use with clearance: Illegal drug use while holding a previous clearance typically results in permanent disqualification.
• Recent felonies: Felony convictions within three years require exceptional rehabilitation evidence and typically result in denial.
• Espionage connections: Any unmitigated connections to espionage, terrorism, or sabotage activities create absolute bars.
• Active dependence: Current alcohol or drug dependence without completed treatment programs and demonstrated recovery.
• Foreign intelligence contacts: Direct contact with foreign intelligence services or agents without proper reporting creates critical concerns.

These circumstances typically require 5-10 years of rehabilitation evidence before adjudicators will grant clearances. Defense contractors should generally avoid sponsoring candidates with critical disqualifiers unless extraordinary business needs justify the low probability of success and extended timelines required.

Significant Disqualifiers (Moderate-High Denial Probability)

Factors in this category create 40-70% denial probabilities but can be successfully mitigated with appropriate documentation and time passage. These represent scenarios where clearance approval remains possible but requires substantial preparation and realistic timeline expectations. Contractors should conduct detailed risk assessments before proceeding with sponsorship.

Security clearance mitigation strategies for significant disqualifiers should begin well before application submission. Proactive documentation gathering, professional treatment completion, and demonstrable behavior changes over extended periods substantially improve approval prospects. Defense contractors should work closely with candidates to develop comprehensive mitigation packages addressing each specific concern.

Moderate Disqualifiers (Lower Denial Probability with Mitigation)

These factors create initial concerns but respond well to mitigation strategies when circumstances are favorable. They represent the most manageable category where proactive preparation significantly improves outcomes. Most applicants with only moderate disqualifiers can successfully obtain clearances with appropriate documentation and reasonable waiting periods.

Moderate disqualifying factors include:

• Resolved collection accounts: Debts under $5,000 being actively resolved through payment plans with documented compliance.
• Marijuana use 12-24 months prior: With no other drug involvement and clear demonstration of lifestyle changes.
• Foreign contacts in allied nations: Relationships with individuals in friendly countries with transparent disclosure and limited contact frequency.
• Minor criminal infractions: Misdemeanors more than three years old with no subsequent legal issues.
• Past financial issues: Bankruptcies or foreclosures more than 2-3 years old with demonstrated financial recovery.

Security clearance financial requirements can typically be satisfied for moderate disqualifiers through debt consolidation plans, credit counseling documentation, and demonstrated improved financial management over 12-24 months. The key to successful mitigation involves comprehensive documentation showing that circumstances have changed and similar problems are unlikely to recur in the future.

Mitigation Strategies and Appeals Process Navigation

Understanding security clearance mitigation strategies and the security clearance appeals process enables both defense contractors and applicants to address disqualifying factors effectively. Proactive preparation substantially improves approval rates while reducing processing timelines. The investment in proper mitigation documentation often determines whether borderline applications succeed or fail during adjudication.

Proactive Mitigation Before Application Submission

Candidates identified with potential disqualifiers benefit substantially from addressing issues before clearance sponsorship begins. Pre-application mitigation can reduce processing timelines by 30-60 days and improve approval rates by 25-40% according to 2024 industry data. This approach also reduces the risk of denials that complicate future clearance applications.

Effective proactive mitigation strategies include:

• Financial rehabilitation: Establish payment plans for outstanding debts and document consistent payments over 6-12 months before application submission.
• Credit counseling: Complete financial counseling programs and create written budgets demonstrating changed money management approaches.
• Substance abuse treatment: Obtain professional treatment for alcohol or drug issues and establish sobriety track records of 12-24+ months.
• Character references: Gather letters from supervisors, community members, clergy, or others who can attest to rehabilitation and current reliability.
• Documentary evidence: Compile comprehensive documentation of changed circumstances, rehabilitation efforts, and current stability in all relevant areas.

Defense contractors should incorporate pre-screening assessments into hiring processes that identify potential disqualifiers early. This enables realistic timeline planning and allows time for candidates to address issues before formal sponsorship. The DOD contractor eligibility requirements become more manageable when applicants have adequate preparation time.

Documentation Requirements for Effective Mitigation

Successful mitigation requires comprehensive documentation rather than mere assertions of reform. Adjudicators need tangible evidence that circumstances have genuinely changed and that problematic conduct is unlikely to recur. The more detailed and extensive the documentation, the more persuasive the mitigation argument becomes.

Financial mitigation packages should include credit reports showing payment history improvements, bank statements demonstrating savings patterns, debt payment confirmations from creditors, and financial counseling certificates. Substance abuse mitigation demands treatment completion certificates, negative drug test results spanning 12+ months, support group attendance records, and provider letters addressing prognosis and recovery likelihood. Criminal conduct mitigation benefits from court disposition documents, probation completion certificates, educational achievement records, employment verification letters demonstrating stability, and community service confirmation showing rehabilitation commitment.

Appeals, Reconsiderations, and Personal Appearance Options

When denials occur, applicants have three primary recourse options depending on the agency involved. The security clearance appeals process succeeds in approximately 30% of cases overall, with success rates exceeding 50% when applicants provide comprehensive new documentation that wasn't considered during initial adjudication. Understanding these options enables strategic decision-making about whether to appeal and how to structure appeals for maximum effectiveness.

Initial denials from DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) allow for written responses within specified timeframes—typically 30-60 days—where applicants can submit additional evidence addressing concerns identified in the Statement of Reasons. Written responses should directly address each specific concern raised, provide new documentation that wasn't available during initial adjudication, and explain why the evidence demonstrates mitigation of security concerns. Generic or argumentative responses rarely succeed without substantive new documentation.

Personal appearance hearings before administrative judges provide opportunities to testify, present witnesses, and directly address allegations. These hearings substantially improve reversal prospects for cases with strong mitigation evidence that benefits from personal explanation. Applicants should prepare thoroughly, organize documentation comprehensively, and consider engaging attorneys experienced in security clearance law when significant career consequences hang in the balance. The investment in professional representation often proves worthwhile for complex cases with substantial mitigation evidence.

Conclusion

DOD background check disqualifiers span 13 adjudicative criteria outlined in SEAD-4, with financial problems, foreign connections, criminal conduct, and substance abuse representing the most frequent denial causes for defense contractor applicants. Understanding what disqualifies you from DOD clearance—and implementing systematic risk assessment frameworks—enables HR professionals to pre-screen candidates effectively while helping qualified applicants address potential issues before formal investigations begin. The whole-person adjudication approach means that most disqualifying factors can be mitigated with appropriate documentation, sufficient time passage, and demonstrated rehabilitation. Defense contractors who invest in clearance eligibility education and structured pre-screening processes can significantly reduce costly clearance failures while accelerating time-to-productivity for security-sensitive positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common reason for DOD security clearance denial?

Financial issues under Guideline F represent the most frequent denial reason, accounting for approximately 45% of all rejections. Unresolved debts exceeding $10,000, recent bankruptcies, tax liens, and patterns of financial irresponsibility trigger the greatest concern because they create potential vulnerability to coercion. Current payment status and demonstrated efforts to resolve debts matter more than absolute debt amounts.

Can you get a security clearance with a felony conviction?

Felony convictions don't automatically disqualify applicants, but convictions within the past seven years create substantial obstacles requiring exceptional mitigation evidence. Successful clearance grants typically require 7-10 years post-conviction with documented rehabilitation, including stable employment, education completion, community involvement, and no subsequent legal issues. The whole-person concept means context and rehabilitation evidence significantly influence final determinations.

How long after drug use can you apply for DOD clearance?

Marijuana use typically requires 12-24 months of abstinence before adjudicators will favorably consider applications, while harder drugs generally necessitate 24-36 months of demonstrated sobriety. Any drug use while holding a previous clearance constitutes a particularly serious violation that may permanently disqualify applicants. Documentation of voluntary cessation, changed peer associations, and negative drug testing strengthens mitigation arguments.

Do foreign family members automatically disqualify you from clearance?

Foreign family members don't create automatic disqualification, but close relationships with immediate family in adversarial nations (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) create significant concerns requiring detailed documentation. Relationships with family in allied nations typically pose fewer obstacles when contacts are transparent, infrequent, and involve no foreign government connections. The key factors include contact frequency, the foreign country involved, and whether foreign contacts have government ties.

How much debt is too much for a security clearance?

No specific debt threshold triggers automatic denial, but delinquent accounts totaling more than $10,000, collection accounts exceeding $5,000, or patterns of financial irresponsibility raise serious concerns. Current payment status and demonstrated efforts to resolve debts matter more than absolute amounts. A $200,000 mortgage with consistent payments creates less concern than $8,000 in delinquent credit cards because the pattern of responsibility differs significantly.

Can you appeal a security clearance denial?

Yes, applicants can appeal denials through written responses to Statements of Reasons within 30-60 days, request reconsideration with additional evidence, or seek personal appearance hearings before administrative judges. Appeals succeed in approximately 30% of cases, with higher success rates when applicants provide comprehensive new documentation addressing specific concerns identified in denial letters. Personal appearance hearings substantially improve reversal prospects for strong cases.

How long does the DOD background check process take?

As of 2025, median processing times average 90-120 days for Secret clearances and 180-240 days for Top Secret clearances. Complex cases involving foreign contacts, extensive financial issues, or criminal history may extend beyond 18 months. Straightforward applications occasionally complete in 60-90 days, while interim clearances may be granted earlier for candidates with clean backgrounds and urgent mission requirements.

What should I disclose on my SF-86 security clearance application?

Disclose everything requested on the SF-86, even if charges were dismissed, debts were paid, or issues seem minor. Deliberate falsification or omission constitutes one of the most serious disqualifiers and is nearly impossible to mitigate regardless of what was concealed. When uncertain whether something requires disclosure, err on the side of transparency with explanatory context rather than omission, as the cover-up typically creates more problems than the underlying conduct.

Additional Resources

1. Security Executive Agent Directive 4: National Security Adjudicative Guidelines
   https://www.dni.gov/files/NCSC/documents/Regulations/SEAD-4-Adjudicative-Guidelines-U.pdf
2. Standard Form 86: Questionnaire for National Security Positions
   https://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/
3. National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)
   https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/21/2020-27698/national-industrial-security-program-operating-manual-nispom