The First Lady of the United States plays an important role in the management of the White House. Known often as the ‘hostess’ of the White House and with a variety of policy influences, she actually isn’t an official government employee and doesn’t receive a salary. She also doesn’t obtain a security clearance or go through the typical background investigation process -just like the president and elected officials.
While the FLOTUS isn’t a government employee, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have access to classified information. Just her knowledge of the president’s schedule puts her in access to classified information. Most presidential family members also have exposure to classified information through briefings or being in the room as the president receives classified information.
The Trump Administration received a lot of scrutiny for how much access presidential family members had, most specifically, any access to classified information by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. While much was made at the time about whether or not they would be able to pass a traditional background investigation screening, the reality is that they didn’t need a security clearance to be privy to classified information. Because classification policies are born out of the White House, the president is the arbiter of classification rules, and has the executive authority to ‘read-in’ anyone, at any time.
The question frequently is asked if most elected officials could obtain a traditional background investigation, given their finances, foreign involvement, or even personal conduct issues. But until classification requirements change and elected officials are required to obtain security clearances, those questions are moot.
The FLOTUS is in a unique position to receive classified information. Most spouses of security clearance holders are not privy to the classified details of their jobs – and most clearance holders are well trained as to what details they can disclose, and what they can’t. And quite frankly, most classified information is so boring, the average spouse wouldn’t want to know it. A key sign of a braggart, liar, or security risk is someone who spends a lot of time talking about all of the sensitive programs they work on that they ‘can’t tell you about.’ If you find this person on Tinder – swipe left. Don’t marry them hoping you’ll get access to lots of spicy secrets – they probably don’t have them. If they do, they are likely soon to be on the receiving end of a security violation that will cost them their career.
