Question

Why does the United States Government require both a level of security clearance (at least equal to the classification of the information) and an appropriate “need to know” the information before information is released to an individual?

Answer 1

The purpose of security clearance is to determine that a person is able and willing to safeguard classified national security information, based on his role or her loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability.

Eligibility for access to the classified information may only be granted to employees who are united states citizens. However, an exception is allowed in specific situations wherein there are compelling reasons for limited access to be granted to an immigrant or foreign national employee who possess a special expertise that is needed for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, cretificates or grants.

The level of security clearance depends upon the duties and responsibilities of the position.

There are three levels of security clearance, with the highest level being Top Secret. Secret is the next level while confidential is the final level.

A clearance level allows a person filling a specific position to have access to classifies national security information up to and including the level of clearance that they hold, so long as the person has a need to know the information.