The National Security Agency (NSA) has a strict drug policy in place to ensure the safety and security of its personnel and operations. The use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances is strictly prohibited on NSA property or while on official duty.
Before applying to NSA openings, applicants should note that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has affirmed that those who currently engage in illegal drug use are not suitable for federal employment and are ineligible to hold a security clearance. They have also clarified that prior use, however, should not prevent you from obtaining a security clearance.
One ClearanceJobsBlog subscriber was curious how close was too close to engage before taking the polygraph and drug test:
I submitted my SF86 form in the middle of December of 2023. I’m currently waiting for the polygraph test and things of that nature. My question is when does the urine drug test occur? Will it be when I have to fly to Maryland for the polygraph test? Thank you.
In the last few years, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) issued guidance that recreational marijuana use remains illegal at the federal level, but will not be the only factor determining a security clearance decision. But apart from the security clearance process, each agency has its own suitability requirements surrounding drug use, with many of them creating more stringent rules beyond what security clearance policy dictates.
On NSA forms it says that “candidates who have used marijuana or any other illegal drugs within the last twelve months will ultimately be found unsuitable for employment”.
Marko Hakamma, moderator on the ClearanceJobsBlog notes, “Agencies such as the FBI, NSA and CIA have their own requirements set when it comes to drug use and can set specific time thresholds, as long as they apply it across the board to all applicants. You have no recourse or appeal.”
If security clearance applicants that apply to these intelligence community agencies do not disclose drug use or involvement at the beginning of the process on the SF-86, it could come up during the polygraph. The recourse for a negative determination would just be to wait the time period and reapply in the future where time passed is a mitigating factor.
As for the drug testing timeframe? Many on the thread note that this will not be administered during the polygraph exam.
