Three Levels of Security Clearance

There are three basic levels of security clearance, as identified in a recent USA Today article. Those with a top-secret clearance may also hold a Sensitive Compartmented Information, or SCI, clearance. SCI clearances allow one to be “read into” any of several “compartments” based on the holder’s need for access to specific, and often extremely sensitive, intelligence.

LEVELS OF SECRECY

Levels of security clearances vary depending on the type of information to which an employee has access. They include:

Confidential

This is the lowest level. It is for access to classified information whose exposure could cause damage. An example of classified information could be that a new intelligence agency, such as the National Reconnaissance Office, has been discussed. (The existence of the NRO was classified when the agency was set up in 1961 and not declassified until 31 years later.)

Secret

This intermediate level applies to access to information whose exposure could cause grave damage. An example could be that the NRO actually has been set up to build and operate the nation’s spy satellites.

Top Secret

The highest level is for access to information whose disclosure would cause extremely grave damage. An example would be revealing NRO satellite photos showing details of an adversary’s troop movements, weapons deployment or research facilities.

Source: John Prados, National Security Archive. Reported by Richard Willing, USA TODAY.

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