Security Clearance Review Act

This bill changes how security clearances are handled for people working in the Executive Office of the President. It says political appointees and special government employees can only work there if it’s clearly consistent with national security, and only the FBI Director can approve their security clearances or decide if they can see classified information.

If the FBI Director denies, suspends, or revokes someone’s clearance or access, the Director must tell the President and certain committees in Congress that same day. If the President reverses or doesn’t follow that decision, the President must send Congress a written explanation within 30 days.

• Who is affected: Political appointees and special government employees in the Executive Office of the President.
• What changes:
  • Working in the Executive Office of the President must be clearly consistent with national security.
  • Only the FBI Director can grant, deny, suspend, or revoke clearances and access to classified information for these positions.
  • Same-day notice to the President and Congress when a clearance or access is denied, suspended, or revoked; a 30-day written explanation to Congress if the President overrides the decision.