If you currently hold a security clearance—or hope to obtain one—you’re stepping into a tradition that started over 75 years ago. It began during World War II when the U.S. government recognized the urgent need to protect its most sensitive plans, technologies, and alliances. Back then, personnel vetting often lacked consistency. There were no universal standards, no single set of criteria.
But as the conflict escalated, the War Department—building on stringent measures used by agencies like the OSS—laid the groundwork for a formal clearance system. By 1943, a basic Personnel Security Program emerged, introducing more uniform checks and documentation. It was a first step toward what we know today: a deliberate, systematic approach to trust and access.
a new chapter in intelligence
Then came the National Security Act of 1947. This landmark legislation reshaped the nation’s defense and intelligence landscape—merging military departments into a unified structure, establishing the Central Intelligence Agency, and creating the National Security Council. While it didn’t dictate the details of clearances, it set the stage for stronger coordination, clearer lines of authority, and a more strategic approach to safeguarding information. In parallel, the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 set early precedents for vetting individuals handling sensitive nuclear information, introducing concepts that influenced later clearance frameworks.
the evolution of standards
Over the subsequent decades, especially during the Cold War, the clearance process evolved. Investigations became more rigorous. Criteria sharpened. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, executive orders and laws—culminating in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004—codified today’s 13 adjudicative guidelines.
With Trusted Workforce 2.0 well underway, today’s security landscape looks much different. As we look toward a future filled with efforts to improve reciprocity, and update policies on drug use and mental health, it’s worth reflecting on where the industry has been. As a security clearance holder, you carry forward a tradition of trust, responsibility, and national service—ensuring the security and stability of the United States of the past, present, and future. future.
