Many new to the security clearance world are not familiar with Scattered Castles. Scattered Castles is a centralized database maintained by the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). Its primary function is to track security clearances, accesses, and affiliations across various intelligence agencies. Unlike the Department of Defense’s Defense Information System for Security (DISS), which covers most military and defense contractors, Scattered Castles is unique to the Intelligence Community.
This database acts as a secure, internal database of who has been vetted for specific clearances, including Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), and Special Access Programs (SAP). For the most part, it helps ensure that when an individual moves between agencies or projects, their clearance status and investigation history can be verified quickly without duplicating costly and time-consuming background investigations.
Why It Matters to Clearance Holders
For employees, contractors, and military personnel seeking to work in intelligence roles, Scattered Castles can be both beneficial and confusing.
Streamlined Movement
If you move from one intelligence agency to another, your clearance record in Scattered Castles can often (not always) help expedite reciprocity (recognition of your clearance by the gaining agency). The ODNI requires that each agency update their information in Scattered Castles quickly.
Confirmation of Eligibility
The database provides agencies with a way to confirm that you hold the correct level of access before being “read in” to certain classified programs.
Access Limitations
Scattered Castles is not directly accessible to applicants or even all security officers. This can make it difficult for individuals to verify their own status without legal or security office assistance. Often, individuals can request, by themselves, or through counsel, a copy of their Scattered Castles records.
Common Misconceptions
One frequent misunderstanding is that Scattered Castles is strictly a “blacklist” or repository of negative information. In reality, it is not a disciplinary or derogatory database. Instead, it is a database that records security accesses/denials, dates and other relevant data for future review. Another misconception is that placement in Scattered Castles guarantees other employment opportunities. While the database can confirm your clearance level, employment decisions are still up to individual agencies and employers. There are often issues involving reciprocity that need to be resolved. The database does not fix these issues.
Final Thoughts
The Scattered Castles database is one of the cornerstones of the Intelligence Community’s clearance process, yet it is largely behind the scenes. For cleared professionals working in or seeking roles that involve access to classified intelligence, understanding how Scattered Castles functions, and where its limitations lie, can make a critical difference in career planning.
If you believe your clearance status in Scattered Castles is preventing you from advancing, it may be time to consult a security clearance attorney who can advocate on your behalf and guide you through the often-complex bureaucracy of intelligence community access.
This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Although the information is believed to be accurate as of the publication date, no guarantee or warranty is offered or implied. Laws, regulations and government policies are always subject to change, and the information provided herein may not provide a complete or current analysis of the topic or other pertinent considerations. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
