DOS Denies Clearances Suspended Due to Mental Illness

The Department of State (DOS) spokesman today denied allegations that the Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) has suspended the security clearances of persons serving in Iraq who voluntarily sought mental health counseling.

...I would find it personally hard to believe based on my understanding of the situation that there is any widespread effort to either suspend or revoke people’s security clearance, simply for reporting that they might or might not be having some kind of mental health issue associated with service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The group Concerned Foreign Service Officers says it “has seen numerous cases where even allegations of mental health issues…have been referred by [the Office of Medical Services] to DS, usually resulting in recommendations to revoke a clearance.”

According to the Federal clearance adjudication guidelines, mental illness can be a factor leading to clearance suspension or denial.

The spokesman also revealed that of some 15,000 cleared DOS employees, up to three dozen currently have suspended clearances.

Filed Under: Adjudication, Adverse Actions