The American experiment was founded on the principle that liberty and equality are not privileges granted by rulers, but rights inherent to every individual. These values shaped the Constitution and gave the United States its unique political identity. They also continue to matter for national security in ways that many often overlook. One of the clearest examples is the security clearance process.
A Process Built on Trust and Fairness
The U.S. system of vetting individuals for access to classified information is based on two fundamental principles: protecting national secrets and ensuring fairness. It is not enough to guard sensitive information; the process must also reflect the nation’s core values. Applicants are not judged by political beliefs, religious background, or ethnicity, but by their ability to demonstrate reliability, honesty, and loyalty. This emphasis on character rather than conformity reflects a more profound truth: the United States cannot defend liberty by abandoning it.
The clearance process has evolved to reflect that truth. During the McCarthy era, suspicion of dissenting political views led to ruined careers and a culture of fear. The overreach of that period served as a reminder that security cannot come at the expense of freedom. Reforms in later decades sought to rebalance the system, ensuring that investigations focused on risk factors like foreign influence, financial stress, and criminal conduct rather than ideology or association.1
Liberty and Equality in Practice
When the clearance system works as intended, it demonstrates America’s core commitments. Investigators receive training to avoid bias and to ensure that they make decisions predicated on evidence, not prejudice. Equal treatment is not just a legal requirement but a strategic necessity. If certain groups are excluded or disproportionately scrutinized, the result is a narrowed talent pool and a workforce that is less representative of the society it defends.
This principle is rooted in America’s founding political thought. James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 51 that justice is the “end of government” and that without it, neither liberty nor stability can endure. The clearance process reflects that insight. A fair system strengthens security by demonstrating that the United States consistently applies its principles, even in sensitive contexts.2
Adversaries like China and Russia already seek to exploit perceived inequities in the United States. Robert Spalding has argued that China’s concept of “unrestricted warfare” includes narrative manipulation designed to magnify U.S. divisions and weaken confidence in democratic institutions. A clearance process that is transparent, fair, and consistent undercuts those narratives. It demonstrates that America can balance security with liberty, even in areas where secrecy is vital.3
Counterintelligence and Credibility
Counterintelligence professionals know that loyalty cannot be coerced; it must be earned. Individuals who feel trusted, respected, and valued are more likely to uphold their obligations than those who feel mistreated. Scholars have identified perceived exclusion as a driver of radicalization, where individuals who feel marginalized become more vulnerable to manipulation by adversaries. The clearance system, therefore, serves not only as a gatekeeping function but also as a statement of national character.4
This credibility extends outward. Allies and partners observe how the United States treats its own people. A clearance process grounded in fairness reinforces the idea that American security institutions operate on principle rather than expedience. It also helps prevent adversaries from sowing doubt among those who hold sensitive positions.
A Strategic Imperative
Liberty and equality are often discussed as moral imperatives, but they are also practical tools of security. They help ensure that the United States attracts and retains the talent it needs, while also projecting legitimacy to the world. The clearance process embodies those principles in action, showing that America can be secure without being oppressive.
Bottom Line
The strength of the clearance system lies not only in the protection it provides but in the values it reflects. By ensuring that liberty and equality remain central to how the United States selects and trusts its most sensitive workforce, the nation strengthens both its security and its identity. Protecting secrets is essential, but protecting principles is what makes America different.
Notes
- Ellen Schrecker, Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1998), 211–15.
- James Madison, Federalist No. 51, in The Federalist Papers, ed. Clinton Rossiter (New York: Signet Classics, 2003), 320–25.
- Robert Spalding, War Without Rules: China’s Playbook for Global Domination (New York: Sentinel, 2022), 45–48.
- Clark McCauley and Sophia Moskalenko, Friction: How Radicalization Happens to Them and Us (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), 84–86.
