{"id":54922,"date":"2018-08-30T22:31:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T22:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/30\/troops-beware-new-security-clearance-rules-could-bite-you\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:51:16","slug":"troops-beware-new-security-clearance-rules-could-bite-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2018\/08\/30\/troops-beware-new-security-clearance-rules-could-bite-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Troops beware: New security clearance rules could bite you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More service members could be at risk of losing their security clearances<\/a> if they don\u2019t keep on top of their finances, because of changes in rules for the security clearance process, according to advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the new guidelines, officials will conduct \u201ccontinuous\u201d monitoring of federal employees who have roles in national security, including service members. Historically, individuals were up for periodic reviews every five to 10 years, depending on the type of clearance. The new, continuous evaluation will include a system that automatically pulls data on workers\u2019 financial<\/a> and criminal records, and, eventually, data from social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis new process might impact your DoD security clearance and prevent you from being deemed \u2018deployable,\u2019 which could greatly impact your military career unless you can prove to DoD that you were the victim of identity theft<\/a>, fraud or a mistake, and that you\u2019re currently living within your means<\/a> and are making a good-faith effort to resolve your unpaid debts,\u201d stated a recent blog<\/a> from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the previous system, service members and other individuals had more time to address financial issues after they arose, said Anthony Kuhn, an attorney with Tully Rinckey PLLC, who has extensive experience helping service members navigate problems involving security clearance suspensions and revocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the longer time between investigations, service members had time to catch up and put payment plans in place, and deal with late payments or missed payments, Kuhn said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut under the new system, they\u2019re going to have to face the consequences of those late payments or missed payments quicker than they would have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kuhn noted that there were well over 2,000 appeals related to security clearances heard by the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals in 2017, and of the 13 adjudicative guidelines for security clearances, financial considerations alone accounted for more than 50 percent of the cases heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI expect that number is going to jump exponentially,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be more financial consideration cases, and service members \u201cwill have a more difficult time mitigating the government\u2019s concerns in dealing with whatever issues arise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shift to a more automated system, Kuhn said, is partly to help deal with the backlog of security clearance investigations, but \u201cironically … it\u2019s actually going to create a larger backlog of cases, because more people are going to have to litigate to retain their security clearance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next three years, the Defense Department will take responsibility for all background investigations involving military and DoD civilian employees and contractors.<\/p>\n\n\n\t