Transparency in Security Clearance Denials Act

This bill makes the State Department share more facts each year about negative security clearance decisions. It requires a yearly report to Congress with counts of these decisions, how many people appealed, how often appeals worked, and what factors were used to decide them. The first report is due 90 days after the law takes effect, and then every year after that. The first one must cover activity from January 1, 2024 up to when the report is sent.

Key points

• Who is affected: State Department workers, including Foreign Service officers, civil service employees, and others whose cases are handled by Diplomatic Security.
• What changes: The report must include numbers for each type of negative decision, appeal counts (including whether the appeal involved assignment limits or assignment reviews), appeal success rates, and a plain description of the criteria used. Data must also be broken down by job type and, where available, by ethnicity, national origin, race, and gender.
• When: First report due within 90 days of enactment, then annually; the first report covers from January 1, 2024 until submission.