Summary
A 42-year-old messaging analyst was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The applicant admitted to multiple delinquent debts and was found to have deliberately omitted these debts from his security clearance application.
Specific financial issues included a mortgage loan past due for $16,834, which was in foreclosure with a balance of $271,350. Other debts included a charged-off home-improvement loan for $33,381 and a charged-off credit card account for $10,327. Additionally, a judgment was filed in 2016 for $7,962 for delinquent taxes, and two smaller debts were placed for collection: $180 owed to a local government and $125 to a fitness club.
The judge determined that the applicant failed to provide evidence of efforts to resolve his debts or otherwise mitigate the financial concerns. The deliberate omission of these debts on his application further contributed to the denial, as the applicant did not mitigate the security concerns raised by his personal conduct and financial history.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to multiple delinquent debts, including a mortgage, home-improvement loan, and credit card debt.
- He falsified his security clearance application by omitting these debts.
- The applicant did not provide evidence of efforts to resolve his debts or mitigate the financial concerns.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(b)raisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 16(a)raisedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedBehavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's delinquent debts are recent and numerous.
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant did not demonstrate that his financial issues were beyond his control.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedInitiated and Is Adhering to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant did not provide evidence of significant actions to resolve his debts.
- AG ¶ 17(a)rejectedPrompt, Good-faith Efforts to Correct the OmissionThe applicant made no effort to correct the omissions until confronted.
- AG ¶ 17(c)rejectedOffense Is so Minor or Infrequent That It Is Unlikely to RecurFalsification of a security clearance application is serious and recent.
Key Rule Quoted
“No one has a ‘right’ to a security clearance.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 13, 2018
- Answer filedAug 24, 2018
- Hearing held—Requested decision on the written record without a hearing.
- Decision dateFeb 25, 2019
Cite For
- Financial Irresponsibility as a Security Concern Under Guideline F
- Falsification of Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- The Burden of Proof on the Applicant to Mitigate Disqualifying Conditions.