Upgrading a Security Clearance
Published : November 27, 2025
Security clearance upgrades raise potential issues for many clearance holders. For many federal employees, military members, and government contractors, moving from a Secret Clearance to a Top Secret (TS) or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance can lead to higher-paying positions and more career growth. But with these opportunities comes deeper scrutiny when it comes time […]
The Importance of Character Letters in Security Clearance Cases
Published : November 20, 2025
We often meet with federal employees and government contractors facing security concerns in connection with their security clearances. These employees often ask for us assistance in responding to a security clearance denial or notice of revocation. No matter the security concerns at issue, we find that it is always important and helpful for the individual […]
Loss of Jurisdiction for Security Clearance Holders
Published : November 14, 2025
In the world of security clearances, few phrases are as confusing or as stressful as “Loss of Jurisdiction.” You might see it on your clearance record in Defense Information System for Security (DISS) or Scattered Castles and wonder what it means for your job, your cleared career, and your eligibility moving forward. The good news is […]
Federal Employee FERS Annuity Supplement Rule Changes
Published : November 14, 2025
Changes to federal employee annuity rules have just been made. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, on October 10, 2025, issued a major new ruling in OPM v. Moulton, holding that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may only divide a federal retiree’s Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity supplement with […]
Defending Federal Employees in EEO Complaints
Published : November 12, 2025
We often represent and defend federal employees and supervisors named as respondents in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints. While many attorneys represent only complainants in EEO complaints, we also represent those co-workers and supervisors accused of EEO misconduct in their defense. In cases where a federal employee or supervisor has been named a respondent in […]
Hearings Before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA)
Published : November 11, 2025
If you are a federal employee or government contractor whose security clearance is under review and you are in the process of having your case heard before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), there are a number of considerations that should be made as you move towards the hearing phase. Before DOHA, an […]
How Does Foreign Influence Affect a Security Clearance?
Published : November 7, 2025
Foreign Influence concerns can become a major issue in security clearance cases for government contractors, military members and federal employees. Unresolved issues involving Foreign Influence is one of the most common grounds for denial of a security clearance. When a foreign influence security concern arises in the context of applying for or attempting to retain […]
How to Keep Your Security Clearance During a Divorce
Published : October 24, 2025
Divorce is one of life’s most difficult events, affecting individuals emotionally, financially, and professionally. For security clearance holders, it also raises an important question. Does your divorce affect your security clearance? It is important to understand that a divorce by itself does not automatically lead to security concerns with a security clearance. However, they can […]
Douglas Factors for Federal Employees
Published : October 17, 2025
Understanding and applying the Douglas factors in federal employee disciplinary cases are critical. Our federal employment law attorneys represent federal employees in disciplinary actions. Douglas factors play a critical role in federal employee defense. There are typically two parts to a federal employee’s disciplinary case: (1) whether the federal employee committed the offense(s) charged; and […]
What is Scattered Castles for Clearance Holders?
Published : October 4, 2025
Many new to the security clearance world are not familiar with Scattered Castles. Scattered Castles is a centralized database maintained by the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). Its primary function is to track security clearances, accesses, and affiliations across various intelligence agencies. Unlike the Department of Defense’s Defense Information System for Security (DISS), which covers most military and defense contractors, […]
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