Report a Security Change, Concern, or Threat

What is Self-Reporting? 

Employees who are in national security positions and have access to classified information are expected to self-report changes or incidents that may impact their clearances. Each agency may have different self-reporting procedures. If you need to self-report, you should contact your agency’s security office. Keep in mind, the issues you're required to report are the same across the federal government.

Self-Reporting Requirements 

By law, security clearance holders are required to self-report life events or incidents that could impact your ability to meet security clearance requirements. Even though it's mandatory, self-reporting is also a question of personal integrity. It's also preferable to the incident or change being discovered.  

Even if you don't have a clearance, your agency may still require you to report to your security office for certain changes or information. Contact your agency’s security office with any questions regarding your specific situation. 

Who to Contact to Self-Report 

Who you are will impact who you should self-report to.  

  • DCSA employees: Check DCSA’s intranet for DCSA employees only for the correct contact 

  • Military members: Talk to your recruiter or Security Officer at your service duty station 

  • Federal civilians: Talk to your agency’s Security Officer or Human Resources office for guidance on to whom you should report 

  • DoD contractors: Talk to your company’s Facility Security Officer 

Events to Self-Report

The Adjudicative Guidelines in 5 CFR 731 202 and Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 4 are a valuable tool in determining if a life-event or situation might result in a need to self-report. Review details of certain events to self-report below.

Confirm requirement to report intimate relationships and engagements as stated.

Any foreign travel outside of the United States other than on official Government business and personal trips outside of the United States in conjunction with official U.S. Government business. A security briefing is required before any foreign travel, whether for personal or business reasons, as well as clearance for travel to hazardous countries for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)-cleared individuals.

Contact with individuals of any foreign nationality, either within or outside the scope of your official duties, personal concern that you are a target of an attempted exploitation, all close and continuing relationships between SCI-cleared individuals and foreign nations.

Inadvertent or accidental loss or compromise of classified or other sensitive information because the first priority in such a situation is to regain control of the classified material.

Filing for bankruptcy, garnishment of wages, having a lien placed on your property for failing to pay a creditor, eviction from a residence for failure to pay rent, or simply your inability to meet all your financial obligations.

Any arrest, regardless of whether charges were filed, other involvement with the legal system (such as being sued), any circumstance where you were sworn under oath.

The U.S. government recognizes the critical importance of mental health and advocates proactive management of mental health conditions to support the wellness and recovery of Federal employees and others. While most individuals with mental health conditions do not present security risks, there may be times when such a condition can affect a person’s eligibility for a security clearance. Mental health treatment and counseling, in and of itself, is not a reason to revoke or deny eligibility for access to classified information or for holding a sensitive position, suitability or fitness to obtain or retain Federal or contract employment, or eligibility for physical or logical access to federally controlled facilities or information systems. Seeking or receiving mental health care for personal wellness and recovery may contribute favorably to decisions about your eligibility.

When counseling is needed, you are encouraged to seek assistance from your employer-sponsored Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or other counseling service. Counseling for certain situations need not be reported if you sought counseling on your own initiative to help you cope. Counseling must be reported if you are advised to seek counseling because of work performance or other undesirable behavior. Seeking help for life stressors does not reflect adversely on an individual’s judgment. Instead, it may be viewed as a positive sign that an individual recognizes that a problem exists and is willing to take steps toward resolving it.

Any planned or actual outside employment or volunteer activity.

Any media inquiries about your job or organization should be reported: ongoing personal contacts with media representatives who cover your organization, or your subject are specialty should be cleared with security.

Any technical paper, book, magazine article, or newspaper article that you prepare for publication or for posting on the Internet, or lecture or speech that you prepare to give, must be cleared in advance if it contains information or knowledge you gained during your current or any previous job.