DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION |
NUMBER: 4600-001 |
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SUBJECT: USDA Personnel Security Clearance Program |
DATE: April 4, 2008 |
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OPI: Office of Security Services |
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1. PURPOSE
This Departmental Regulation establishes policies and procedures for the efficient, effective, and consistent management of the personnel security clearance program within all agencies and staff offices of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
2. SCOPE
This regulation applies to all USDA employees, as defined in Executive Order 12968 “Access to Classified Information,” (hereafter, E.O. 12968), and applicants for employment with USDA (referred to hereafter in this regulation as the Department), contractors, guest researchers, collaborators, advisory committee members, students, trainees, non-employee affiliates of the Department, and other persons designated by the Secretary of Agriculture who require access to classified national security information (hereafter, classified information).
3. BACKGROUND
Executive Order 10450, “Security Requirements for Government Employment,” (hereafter, E.O. 10450) requires Departments and agencies to establish an effective program to ensure that the employment and retention of persons in Federal service is in the interests of national security. Applicable standards are set forth in Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 732, “National Security Positions” and 736 “Personnel Investigations.” E. O. 12968 establishes a uniform Federal personnel security program for persons who require initial or continued access to classified information.
4. POLICY
a.
The USDA’s Office of Security Services (OSS), Personnel
and Document Security Division (
b.
c. USDA shall afford fair, impartial, and equitable treatment to all USDA employees and applicants through consistent application of personnel security standards, criteria, and procedures as specified in applicable laws and regulations. The Department shall not use the denial of access to classified information as a substitute for appropriate adverse suitability determinations or disciplinary actions.
d. In no event will an individual be given access to classified information prior to that individual being granted a security clearance.
e.
USDA agencies and staff offices have an affirmative
responsibility to notify
f. All persons granted access to classified information must undergo timely periodic reinvestigation(s) for the continuation of their security clearance.
g. Individuals whose national security clearance has been suspended, revoked, or denied shall not have any access to classified information or perform any duties requiring a security clearance.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
a.
The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for ensuring
USDA’s personnel security clearance program is viable and effectively supports
USDA’s work with classified national security programs. The Secretary has designated the Director,
b. Subcabinet Officers and Staff Office Directors are responsible for:
(1) Ensuring the implementation of the provisions of this DR, and taking the necessary steps to ensure the achievement of USDA’s personnel security objectives within their organizational element(s);
(2) Ensuring the number of persons granted access to classified information is limited to those with a clearly articulated, mission-related “need to know” necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out USDA program responsibilities;
(3) Endorsing by signature any mission-related requests for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearances;
(4)
Designating Personnel Security Points of Contact to
serve as a liaison to
(5) Ensuring the timely submission of the forms required for the periodic reinvestigations for all cleared personnel.
c. Mission Area and Human Resource Directors are responsible for:
(1) Ensuring the timely submission of personnel security clearance requests for new and existing employees serving in national security positions;
(2)
Providing written notification to
(3) Including security clearance requirements in vacancy announcements and position descriptions when applicable;
(4)
Ensuring all personnel security clearance background
investigation forms are transmitted to
(5)
Notifying
(6) Taking appropriate action when a security clearance is suspended, denied, or revoked.
d. Director, OSS, is responsible for:
(1) Directing and administering the USDA personnel security program in accordance with applicable Public Laws, Executive Orders, Federal and USDA regulations;
(2) Establishing, disseminating, and enforcing the provisions of this DR and relevant DMs;
(3) Serving as the Deciding Official for the suspension, denial, or revocation, of security clearances for USDA personnel;
(4) Approving requests for SCI security clearances; and
(5) Serving as the liaison official to the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Personnel Management on matters which involve the Department’s personnel security program.
e. Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for:
(1)
Coordinating with
(2)
Ensuring that corresponding IT policy is developed to
support the implementation of DR and DM 4600-001, including cross-references to
(3) Incorporating, where appropriate, applicable USDA personnel security policies and procedures in USDA policy and standards for IT system protection.
f. Office of General Counsel is responsible for:
(1) Providing advice and assistance to ensure the implementation of USDA’s personnel security program and related activities are in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, and USDA directives;
(2) Reviewing responses to Freedom of Information Act action requests when classified information concerning personnel security is involved and the organizational element decides a record will be neither confirmed nor denied; and
(3)
Serving in an
advisory role to
g.
(1)
Day-to-day
management of the Department’s personnel security program;
(2)
Issuing and
updating Department-wide policies and procedures;
(3)
Maintaining
USDA’s repository of electronic and hard copy personnel security files, to
include the Security Entry and Tracking System; and
(4)
Certifying security clearance information to
other government agencies, companies, and other private entities in support of
classified visits by USDA cleared personnel.
h.
Personnel
Security Review Board is
responsible for hearing employee appeals concerning
i. Office of Procurement and Property Management is responsible for:
(1) Issuing guidance regarding USDA contracts requiring personnel security clearances for handling classified information and/or working with classified systems; and
(2)
Requiring that all security documentation has been provided
to
j.
Employees are responsible for:
(1)
Adhering
to the provisions of this regulation and DM 4600-001;
(2)
Providing
full cooperation with personnel security staff in association with
conducting background investigations and adjudicating the results of unresolved
issues;
(3)
Conducting both their business and personal
affairs in a manner that does not threaten the loss of their security clearance;
(4)
Advising their supervisor, their organizational
element’s Personnel Security Point-of-Contact, or
(5)
Reporting in advance to
(6) Reporting all close and continuing contacts with foreign nationals or contact with representatives of foreign countries that is considered threatening or suspicious, when holding a SCI security clearance.
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