Security Clearances with Incident Reports in DISS

In the world of federal employment and government contracting, maintaining a security clearance is essential to accessing classified information and staying mission-ready. But what happens if you receive an incident report in the Defense Information System for Security (DISS)?

An incident report doesn’t mean your clearance is automatically revoked—but it does signal a red flag to security officials that needs formal attention.

clearance2017 writes:

I got an incident report last Oct. as a cleared employee. The incident report has stayed in my DISS account until now. No one contact me from the government either. I have the following questions:

1. How long will it take for this incident report (IR) to be investigated and removed from my account? Does my sponsor need to do something to initiate this investigation for the IR?
2. If I change my employer while this incident report is in my DISS account, would I lose my clearance at the new company?

An incident report in DISS does not automatically equate to a suspended security clearance. Unless DISS specifically indicates that your clearance is suspended—which is relatively rare and should result in a formal notification—a DISS incident report alone does not affect your ability to perform your duties or access classified information. Only the federal agency that issued your clearance has the authority to suspend it.

What Is an Incident Report?

An incident report is a formal entry in DISS indicating potentially disqualifying behavior or events. These can include:

• Arrests or criminal charges
• Financial issues (e.g., large debts, bankruptcy)
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Mishandling classified information
• Foreign contacts or influence
• Adverse conduct at work

Facility Security Officers (FSOs), supervisors, or other authorized personnel typically submit these reports as part of their obligation to uphold national security protocols.

If you’re working under an interim clearance, it may be suspended immediately if an IR is recorded. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fired, but you may be temporarily reassigned or placed on leave until the issue is reviewed.

For those with active clearances, the incident triggers a formal review or re-investigation, which can delay or impact your ability to work on sensitive projects. Or sometimes it doesn’t… One investigator’s experience:

That incident report will lie there like some kind of hibernating bear as long as you stay at your current company working for the same customer.

If you try to go to a different company, or maybe even try to work on a different contract while still at the same company, it will wake up and be in a very nasty mood.

This is based on several cases involving former coworkers, some of whom had no idea about the incident report until they tried to get a new job. Then they had to find an employer willing to sponsor them for a whole new investigation.

The Review Process

DCSA recommends this to those who report IR’s:

To facilitate quicker processing of incident reports, the report must include the basic information covering “who” (who was involved; for example: subject, law enforcement agency, court name), “what” (what is/was the incident), “where” (where did the incident happen; for example: city, state), and “when” (when did the incident occur). When submitting an incident report, refer to the questions on the SF-86 relating to the incident and provide as much of the information as possible relative to those questions. 

Once submitted, the incident is evaluated by adjudicative authorities such as the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). They may:

• Re-open your background investigation
• Request additional documentation
• Issue a Statement of Reasons (SOR) outlining the security concern
• Schedule an interview or hearing

You’ll be given the opportunity to provide context, mitigating evidence, or proof that the issue has been resolved.

Possible outcomes? Could be no action, if the issue is minor or resolved, meaning your clearance remains intact. You could end up retaining a clearance with stipulations (e.g., counseling, monitoring), which I haven’t seen as much. Or your clearance could be suspended or totally revoked – if the risk is deemed too great, your clearance may be pulled.

Takeaways for Cleared Professionals

• Be Proactive: If something happens that could raise a red flag (e.g., DUI, financial trouble), report it yourself. Self-reporting often counts in your favor.
• Maintain Documentation: Keep records of resolution efforts like court dismissals, repayment plans, or rehabilitation.
• Stay Transparent: Honesty, even about mistakes, is crucial. Trust and integrity are at the core of clearance eligibility.

An IR in DISS is notable, but not necessarily negative. It starts a process—not a punishment—and professionals who respond promptly and honestly can retain their clearance. In the national security space, how you handle adversity can be just as important as the incident itself.

When in doubt, seek guidance from your FSO or legal counsel.