A US Government Security Clearance
"Credit and criminal
history checks will be conducted on all applicants... Residences will be confirmed,
neighbors interviewed, and public records queried for information about
bankruptcies, divorces, and criminal or civil litigation." - fbi.gov
"A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual's
loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is
eligible for access to national security information. The investigation focuses on
an individual's character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty,
trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, criminal activity,
emotional stability, and other similar and pertinent areas. All investigations
consist of checks of national records and credit checks; some investigations also
include interviews with individuals who know the candidate for the clearance as
well as the candidate himself/herself." - dss.mil
"The interests of the national security require that all persons privileged
to be employed in the departments and agencies of the government shall be reliable,
trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and of complete and unswerving loyalty
to the United States. This means that the appointment of each civilian employee in
any department or agency of the government is subject to investigation. The scope
of the investigation will vary, depending on the nature of the position and the
degree of harm that an individual in that position could cause." -
opm.gov
