If you’ve applied for a federal role or are currently in the security clearance process, you’re probably wondering: What happens to my clearance if hiring is on hold?
The good news is that even during a hiring freeze, security clearance investigations and adjudications are still happening. Agencies like the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) remain operational, and unless there’s a specific reason to halt your clearance process, it will likely continue moving forward.
That means if you’ve already been favorably adjudicated, even if you haven’t signed your SF-312 (the non-disclosure agreement required to begin accessing classified information), you still have clearance eligibility. And that’s key: Eligibility is a workplace credential that you can take with you.
Clearance Eligibility = Career Opportunity
Your security clearance isn’t tied to a single job. If you’ve reached the eligibility stage, you’re considered cleared—even if you haven’t started the job tied to the original investigation. For example, if you’ve been adjudicated for a TS/SCI, you can start applying for TS/SCI-eligible positions today on ClearanceJobs.
With hundreds of jobs listed specifically for candidates who are clearance eligible, this could be a valuable time to explore your options—even if you’re in limbo due to the hiring freeze.
Bottom Line
Security clearance background investigations are still being processed. A favorable adjudication means you have active clearance eligibility, even if your job offer is delayed or canceled. You can use that eligibility to apply for other cleared jobs right now.
If you’re one of the many professionals caught in hiring freeze uncertainty, now is the perfect time to create a free ClearanceJobs profile, upload your resume, and see who’s hiring for your skillset and clearance level.
