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ISCR Case 20-01126 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 20-01126

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date6/6/2024
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Related decisionSee the appeal decision (Case 20-01126) →
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Nichole L. Noel
Government Counsel: Alison P. O'Connell
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 35-year-old information technology professional employed by a federal contracting company since September 2018. He contested the Department of Defense's (DOD) decision to deny his security clearance based on financial considerations, specifically owing approximately $28,000 in delinquent debts. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) outlined multiple debts, including a judgment from a rental car company, a repossessed vehicle, and various credit obligations.
During the hearing, the applicant admitted to the existence of the debts but attributed his financial difficulties to youth, immaturity, and a period of unemployment. He did not provide documentation to support any claims of debt resolution or a plan to address his financial issues. The administrative judge noted that the applicant had not taken steps to resolve his delinquent accounts and failed to present evidence of any efforts to mitigate the financial concerns raised in the SOR.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he did not demonstrate the necessary reliability and trustworthiness required for access to classified information. The judge emphasized that the applicant's failure to address his financial obligations raised significant concerns about his judgment and self-control, ultimately determining that granting a security clearance was not consistent with the national interest.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 20-01126

deniedJun 6, 2024· Hon. Nichole L. Noel· hearing

Summary

A 35-year-old information technology professional was denied a security clearance under Guideline F, Financial Considerations, due to unresolved delinquent debts totaling $28,000. The administrative judge determined that the applicant failed to demonstrate any efforts to address these financial obligations.

Specifically, the applicant did not provide evidence of attempts to resolve the debts, which raised concerns regarding his reliability and trustworthiness. These issues were identified as disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines Paragraphs 19(b) and 19(c).

Ultimately, the judge concluded that granting a security clearance was not consistent with national interest, leading to the denial of the applicant's clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant did not provide evidence of efforts to resolve his delinquent debts.
The applicant's financial issues raised concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 19(b)raisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJul 8, 2022
Answer filed—
Hearing heldJul 19, 2023record left open until September 1, 2023 for additional documentation
Decision dateJun 6, 2024

Cite For

Failure to Demonstrate Efforts to Resolve Delinquent Debts Under Guideline F
Impact of Financial Issues on Security Clearance Eligibility
Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.