Summary
A 37-year-old federal contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant faced allegations concerning seven delinquent debts totaling $57,675 and the intentional omission of these debts from his security clearance application.
Specifically, the applicant admitted to owing the $57,675 across seven debts but had not made any payments or taken other actions to resolve them. He also failed to provide evidence of current efforts to address these debts or explain why he had not used his remaining income to do so. Furthermore, the applicant intentionally concealed these numerous delinquent debts on his security clearance application.
The judge found that the applicant's lack of action to resolve his significant debts and his deliberate failure to disclose relevant financial information undermined his reliability and trustworthiness. Despite consideration of mitigating conditions, the security clearance was ultimately denied.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant has seven delinquent debts totaling over $57,000 that remain unpaid.
- Applicant failed to provide evidence of efforts to resolve his delinquent debts despite having expendable income.
- Applicant intentionally omitted numerous delinquent debts from his security clearance application.
Conditions Referenced
- F.19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- F.19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- E.16(a)raisedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- F.20(b)appliedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlApplicant's unemployment was largely beyond his control, but he did not act responsibly afterward.
- F.20(c)rejectedThe Person Has Received or Is Receiving Counseling for the Problem
- F.20(d)rejectedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
- E.17(a)rejectedThe Individual Made Prompt, Good-faith Efforts to Correct the Omission
- E.17(c)rejectedThe Offense Is so Minor or Infrequent That It Is Unlikely to Recur
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedMar 24, 2010
- Answer filedApr 3, 2010Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
- Hearing held—No hearing; decided on written record.
- Decision dateAug 24, 2010
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Financial Obligations Under Guideline F
- Intentional Omission of Debts on Security Clearance Application Under Guideline E
- Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions