The Personnel and Document Security Division (PDSD) has overall responsibility for the policies and procedures of the USDA personnel and document security programs. As discussed below, personnel security focuses on human reliability while document security ensures the protection of classified national security information. PDSD has a Personnel Security Branch (PSB) and an Information Security Staff (ISS).

PSB initiates background investigations on USDA employees and contractors with OPM and adjudicates those investigations for suitability (Public Trust positions) and for security (National Security positions). PSB handles the issuing, passing, suspending, and revoking of security clearances for USDA personnel.

ISS is responsible for providing guidance to both USDA agencies and its contractors on Departmental security classification programs. ISS conducts security indoctrination and awareness training, provides guidance on the award of contracts that require access to classified information, and assists agencies with the purchase of classified destruction devices as well as secure copiers and fax machines.