When security clearance applicants or holders find their way to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) a lot of questions bubble to the surface. It’s common to feel paranoid or second guess everything – especially when a security clearance is on the line. One reader on the ClearanceJobs Blog wondered the following:
Do DOHA attorneys, admin judges or investigators have access to your bank account during hearings or interviews? Like, can they see what you spent or your account balance?
How Private is Your Banking info in the Clearance Process?
Money matters often seem especially personal, so it can be jarring to get asked about current bank account amounts. If someone asks what’s in your bank account, though, can they actually check it, too?
While being asked to provide account balances isn’t standard, it could become an issue if your security clearance is denied or revoked for financial considerations, or Guideline F issues. When it comes to proving your trustworthiness from a financial perspective, it is normal to show payments, receipts, or bank account information – as paper copies. If you say that your financial situation is improving, it’s important to have the records to show it. If you’ve told the government you have your finances in check, they may ask for clarifying details about your accounts to verify that.
But Don’t Plan on Padding Your Bank Account Numbers
If you’re asked questions about your bank account status, it doesn’t mean that anyone has direct access to your account. It may be surprising to hear that the government cares how much money is in our accounts, but with financial issues being the most common factor in most major espionage cases, it’s a question the government has every right to ask. If you’re hoping to beef up the amounts or lie about spending habits or debt, you should reconsider. The truth always has a way of being found out – whether or not the government has access to you bank accounts or not (and they don’t). And you may be able to mitigate the reality of your bank account trends, but you can’t mitigate lying.
Present the requested information, knowing that it’s intended to show overall proof of your trustworthiness and inability to be blackmailed by those who wish to do harm against the United States. And don’t give into the temptation to lie about your spending habits and reliability in paying off personal debt.
Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” This case-by-case system is meant to consider the whole person, increase process security, and allow the lowest-risk/highest-need candidates to complete the process. This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
