Security clearance

Need a New Security Clearance? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know


If you work for the government, you need to understand the security clearance process. Even if your current position doesn’t require a security clearance (and it’s hard to find one that doesn’t require at least a public trust), there’s a good chance you’ll come across clearance terminology in your workplace. Here are five things to keep in mind:

You’re not imagining it—the cleared population is shrinking. If your position used to require a clearance and now suddenly doesn’t, this point applies to you. The government’s response to insider threats was a serious crack down on access to classified information. Between 2013 and 2016 the Department of Defense reduced the number of security clearance holders by 20 percent.