DRP and RIFs Make Current and Former Clearance Holders Ripe for Recruitment

The news outlets are brimming with stories about the massive amount of federal government workers getting fired, taking the deferred resignation offer, or getting ousted as a part of reductions in force. Many of these workers currently have or have previously held a security clearance and had access to classified information. Take the Central Intelligence Agency as an example; last month they terminated 51 career intelligence officers who were serving on details related to recruitment. Many of these fired employees may now be desperately looking for other employment, which makes them a target for recruitment.

Entering from stage left are foreign intelligence entities posing as corporate recruiters, research organizations, or operatives with fake profiles on social and professional networking sites. They target unwitting current or former government workers, throwing out job offers online or conjuring up profiles with similar job experiences to create a link or bond. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence recognized this counterintelligence threat to national security and developed a security aid to remind the current and former workforce of their obligation to continue to protect all classified data regardless of whether they still hold a security clearance or not.

Regardless of whether a clearance holder was properly debriefed prior to termination, the non-disclosure agreement they signed stated that they understand that unauthorized disclosure or retention of classified information is a violation of law. If approached by a suspected foreign intelligence agent, they should report it to their SSO or FSO if still cleared. If no longer cleared, it should be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.