Federal Contracting — Security Clearance Levels

The Confidential clearance is the lowest level of security clearance, granting access to information whose unauthorized disclosure could cause damage to national security. This is the entry-level clearance used across DoD and other agencies for personnel who need limited access to classified materials.

A Public Trust position at the moderate risk level requires a background investigation but is not a security clearance in the traditional sense. It is used for positions that involve access to sensitive but unclassified information, moderate-risk duties, or IT systems processing sensitive data.

A high-risk public trust position involves duties that can cause significant damage to the public trust if performed improperly. This includes access to sensitive financial data, critical IT infrastructure, law enforcement information, or policy-making positions.

The NACI is the baseline investigation for federal employees in non-sensitive, low-risk positions. While not a security clearance per se, it is the standard background check for most federal contractor positions that do not require access to classified information or sensitive systems.

The Secret clearance grants access to information whose unauthorized disclosure could cause serious damage to national security. It is the most commonly held clearance level, with approximately 3 million active Secret clearance holders across government and industry. Most defense contracts require at least a Secret clearance.

An Interim Secret clearance is a temporary clearance granted while the full Secret investigation is pending. It allows contractors to begin work on classified projects before the complete background investigation is adjudicated, reducing workforce gaps and contract start delays.

The L clearance is the Department of Energy equivalent of a Secret clearance. It grants access to Confidential Restricted Data, Secret National Security Information, and Confidential Formerly Restricted Data. L clearances are used for personnel who need limited access to classified information in the DOE complex.

A NATO Secret clearance allows access to NATO classified information at the Secret level. NATO clearances are processed through the national security authority and are based on the holder's existing national clearance. NATO has its own classification system parallel to U.S. classifications.

The Top Secret clearance grants access to information whose unauthorized disclosure could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security. The investigation is comprehensive, covering the applicant's entire adult life. Approximately 1.3 million people hold active Top Secret clearances.

An Interim Top Secret clearance is a temporary authorization granted while the full SSBI investigation is pending. It provides limited Top Secret access to allow personnel to begin work on classified programs. Interim TS clearances are granted less frequently than Interim Secret due to the higher risk level.

The Q clearance is the Department of Energy equivalent of a Top Secret clearance. It grants access to classified Restricted Data (RD) and Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) related to nuclear weapons design, production, and stockpile stewardship. Q clearances are administered by DOE's Office of Personnel Security.

COSMIC Top Secret is NATO's highest classification level, equivalent to a national Top Secret clearance. COSMIC stands for Control of Secret Material in an International Command. Access requires both a national Top Secret clearance and additional NATO vetting for the most sensitive alliance information.

TS/SCI adds Sensitive Compartmented Information access to a Top Secret clearance. SCI is a classification for intelligence information that requires special handling and is compartmented so that access to one SCI program does not automatically grant access to another. SCI is primarily used by the intelligence community.

Sensitive Compartmented Information access is granted on a compartment-by-compartment basis to individuals who hold a Top Secret clearance and have been nominated for access to specific intelligence programs. Each SCI compartment (e.g., SI, TK, G, HCS) controls access to a specific category of intelligence information.

Special Access Programs (SAPs) impose additional security measures beyond those for standard classified information. SAPs protect the most sensitive military technologies, intelligence methods, and covert operations. Access is strictly controlled and limited to individuals with a specific, validated need to know.

Yankee White is an administrative designation for personnel who work in direct support of the President and Vice President of the United States. It is the most stringent personnel reliability program, requiring extensive vetting beyond standard Top Secret / SCI investigations.

CNWDI is a DoD category of Top Secret Restricted Data revealing the theory of operation or design of the components of a nuclear weapon. Access to CNWDI is limited to the minimum number of personnel whose official duties require it. CNWDI is a subset of Restricted Data that receives additional protection.

COMSEC clearance authorizes access to communications security material, including cryptographic equipment, keys, and procedures used to protect classified communications. COMSEC is managed by the NSA and is critical for protecting government and military communications.