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Clearance Matrix

Matrix of Potential Disqualifying Activities

Attached is the "Matrix of Potential Disqualifying Activities," prepared based on the DOE "Criteria for determining eligibility for access to classified matter or special nuclear material" and the DOD "Criteria for application of Security Standards." The second column, headed "Significant Disqualifier," means that there is a significant chance (60-100%) that the applicant will not be granted a security clearance. The third column, headed "Significant Concern," means that these activities may cause a delay in the granting of a clearance but that there is a 50-50% change that the applicant will be granted a security clearance. The forth column, headed "Marginal Concern," means that these types of activities will have to be favorably adjudicated, but unless there are "hidden" factors the applicant should be granted a security clearance after appropriate adjudication by the DOE or DOD.
Some of the categories are rather self-explanatory, such as espionage and treason. Others are more subjective. Gregg tried to provide examples of the type of information that would be available based on the current requirements of the DOE and DOD pre-employment checks for applicants to a security clearance.
Criteria Significant Disqualifier Significant Concern Marginal Concern
Criteria Significant Disqualifier Significant Concern Marginal Concern
Acts of sabotage, espionage, treason, terrorism or sedition. Planned or carried out any such act N/A N/A
Association with saboteur, spy, traitor, seditionist, espionage or other agent or representative of a foriegn government Deliberately establishing any association with the listed individuals Unknowingly establishing an association with the listed individuals N/A
Knowing membership with the specific intent of furthering the aims of, or adherence to and active participation in any organization which unlawfully advocates violence to prevent others to exercise rights or to overthrow the government Knowing and active participation in the membership and activities of the organization Blind or indirect membership through a third party with no participation N/A
Publicly or privately advocated or participated in the use of force to overthrow the US Government Took physical or planned to take action to overthrow the government Expressed a desire to take physical or violent action against the government N/A
Presence of immediate family members or other persons to whom a bond or affection or obligation exists in a nation whose interest may be inimical to the United States Emotional, financial or other bond to immediate family members Strong emotional, financial or other bond to non-immediate family members Financial or other bond to non-family members
Deliberately misprepresented, falsified, or omitted significant information Deliberately lied on government forms, employment applications, security interviews or inquiries Inadvertently providing false information to an employer or law enforcement or other government agency Exaggerating or minimizing material facts in employment, law enforcement or other government agency investigations
Failed to protect classified information, safeguard SNM, violated or disregarded security regulations, unauthorized disclosure of classified information Deliberately released classified information to individuals who did not have security clearances Deliberately released classified information to unauthorized individuals who had security clearances Inadvertently released classified information or mishandled classified information
Illness or mental condition of a nature which causes or may cause a significant defect in judgment or reliability Diagnosis of an illness or condition by a board-certified psychiatrist or other licensed physician that has or may cause a defect in judgment or reliability Diagnosis of an illness or condition that if not controlled by medication may cause a defect in judgment or reliability N/A
Refusal to testify before a Congressional Committee or other body regarding charges relevant to eligibility for a security clearance Refusal to testify for any reason N/A N/A
Been, or is a user of alcohol, habitually or in excess, or has been diagnosed as suffering from alcohol abuse Current use of alcohol habitually to excess; long history of alcohol use and abuse, including involvement by law enforcement Has but not currently abusing alcohol, including treatment and/or law enforcement in the last five years Has in the distant past abused alcohol to include treatment and/or law enforcement (ten years or more)
Trafficked in, sold, transferred, possessed, used or experimented with a drug or other substance listed in Section 202 of the Schedule of Controlled Substances Currently a user or dealer of any illegal drug or other illegal use of legal drugs Used or experimented with any illegal drug within the last three months; has not sold drugs in the last year Has not used any illegal drugs in the last six months; has not sold drugs in the last two years
Performing or attempting to perform one's duties of dual citizenship Actively applied and accepted a passport and citizenship status from a country other than the United States; refuses to renounce citizenship of the second country Designated a citizen of another country by birth or relationship to parents; does not hold passport but will not renounce citizenship of second country Designated a citizen of another country by birth or relationship; does not want citizenship, has not accepted passport and is willing to renounce citizenship if required
Engaged in any unusual conduct or is subject to any circumstances which tend to show that the individual is not honest, reliable, or trustworthy; or which furnishes reason to believe that the individual may be subject to pressure, coercion, exploitation or duress Current criminal behavior; current financial irresponsibility; acts of omission or commission Past significant history of criminal behavior; past significant history of financial irresponsibility to include past bankruptcies; patterns of poor judgment or lack of reliability Isolated or minor criminal behavior, past financial problems to include bad debts; acts of sexual misconduct or perversion indicative of moral turpitude, poor judgment, or lack of regard for the laws of society