§832 Full field investigation and appraisal

Summary

People cannot be hired, assigned, or detailed to the Agency unless they have passed a complete background check and are approved to see classified information. The Secretary may let someone start work without access to sensitive cryptologic material while the check is finished, under rules the Secretary sets. The Secretary can also skip a new background check if the person already has a current, equivalent security clearance. In a Congress-declared war, a Secretary-declared national disaster, or in rare written cases the Secretary or designee says are needed for the national interest, the Secretary may temporarily hire or give access before the check is done if it is clearly consistent with national security. The Agency Director must create one or more appraisal boards of three members each. When the Director doubts whether a person should see classified information, a board will review their loyalty and fitness and send a recommendation. Board review is not required before actions under sections 7512 and 7532 of title 5 or similar laws. Each board member must be specially trained, have passed a complete background check, and be cleared when appointed. No one may be cleared against a board’s recommendation unless the Secretary or designee writes that it is in the national interest.