The Diplomatic Security Service is responsible for many security clearance investigations. However, with over 38,000 actions per year, the DSS tends to favor efficiency over in-depth consideration of each security clearance holder or job candidate.
If you are facing a denial or revocation of clearance, this might not be the end of your federal employment career. However, it is important to understand that there are multiple parties involved and multiple factors in every security clearance issue.
Losing security clearance
Even though your security clearance is probably subject to regular review, you might not realize the ease with which you could lose it. That is especially true if you first got a top-secret-clearance career early in your life, such as directly after military duty or college.
Younger people tend to have fewer concerns that could threaten eligibility. For example, you might not have had a home or family of your own. Similarly, you might not have had enough international experience to potentially be under foreign influence. Understanding these factors is often essential in preventing and responding to interim decisions and adverse actions.
Denials of clearance
While denials of clearance are not simple, they might be less complex than revocations of your existing clearance. For example, your continuing duties would not be a factor if you did not yet have a job.
There are also various types of denials. One that you might misunderstand is a denial of favorable interim determination. This means that your case would require more investigation before you receive approval to go to work.
Due to the complexity of this system, you might face various formalities throughout the process. Understanding the factors that determine eligibility and putting them in the context of your personal history should help you understand your situation.