If you’ve been told your security clearance is in jeopardy, you’re not alone. Thousands of federal employees, contractors, and service members face clearance denials or revocations every year. For most, the fear is the same:

  • “Am I about to lose my career?”

  • “What will this do to my reputation?”

  • “Is there anything I can do to fight back?”

The truth is, clearances don’t get denied for no reason. The government follows the Adjudicative Guidelines, which outline the concerns that may disqualify someone from holding access to classified information.

At the National Security Law Firm (NSLF), we’ve spent decades inside and outside government fighting these cases. Here are the top reasons security clearances get denied or revoked — and how you can protect yourself.

1. Financial Problems (Guideline F)

Money is the number-one reason clearances are denied or revoked. Unpaid debts, foreclosures, tax liens, bankruptcies, or unexplained affluence all raise red flags. The concern is simple: financial strain can make someone vulnerable to bribery or coercion.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “Yes, I owe $50,000, but it’s not a big deal.”

  • Winning Approach: Showing proof of repayment, credit counseling, and new financial habits.

2. Criminal Conduct (Guideline J)

Arrests, convictions, or even repeated minor offenses can be disqualifying. The government worries that criminal behavior shows poor judgment and unreliability.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “That assault charge was dismissed, so it doesn’t matter.”

  • Winning Approach: Providing court records, letters of character reference, and proof of rehabilitation.

3. Drug Use and Substance Misuse (Guideline H & Guideline G)

Drug use — even marijuana in states where it’s legal — is a common reason for denial. Alcohol misuse, including DUIs, can also sink a clearance. The government sees substance misuse as a threat to judgment, stability, and reliability.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “I only smoked marijuana once, so I left it off my SF-86.”

  • Winning Approach: Disclosing past use candidly, showing negative drug tests, and providing evidence of abstinence.

4. Foreign Influence and Foreign Preference (Guideline B & Guideline C)

Family abroad, dual citizenship, foreign property, or business connections can raise loyalty concerns. The government fears divided allegiance or undue influence.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “I didn’t think my foreign bank account mattered.”

  • Winning Approach: Demonstrating strong U.S. ties: citizenship, marriage, property, taxes, and long-term employment here.

5. Personal Conduct (Guideline E)

This is the government’s “catch-all” guideline. Lying on the SF-86, omitting information, or being dishonest with investigators can destroy credibility. Even a small omission can snowball into a full-blown clearance denial.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “I didn’t list that arrest because it was embarrassing.”

  • Winning Approach: Admitting the omission, explaining the circumstances, and showing candor moving forward.

6. Psychological Conditions (Guideline I)

Mental health concerns don’t automatically disqualify you — but untreated conditions, hospitalizations without follow-up, or ignoring prescribed treatment can. The issue is whether the condition affects judgment, stability, and reliability.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: Refusing to discuss treatment.

  • Winning Approach: Showing compliance with treatment, doctor’s letters, and evidence of stability.

7. Mishandling Classified Information (Guideline K)

Few issues are taken more seriously than mishandling secrets. Even unintentional disclosures — like taking documents home or failing to secure systems — can end a career.

Example:

  • Wrong Approach: “I only brought the file home once.”

  • Winning Approach: Showing retraining, compliance improvements, and that it was an isolated mistake.

What These Reasons Have in Common

Whether it’s finances, foreign ties, or a DUI, the government’s core question is always the same:

“Can we trust this person with classified information?”

That’s why the whole person concept is so important. Adjudicators look at:

  • The seriousness of the issue

  • How recent it was

  • Whether it’s a pattern or isolated incident

  • What steps you’ve taken to address it

Translation: You’re not judged only on your past mistake — you’re judged on how you’ve responded since.

Hypotheticals: Real-World Scenarios

Hypothetical 1: Debt in the Wrong Hands

Situation: A contractor owes $60,000 in unpaid credit cards.
Outcome Without Help: Clearance revoked for financial irresponsibility.
NSLF Strategy: We present repayment plans, debt counseling, and budgeting records. Clearance reinstated.

Hypothetical 2: DUI Trouble

Situation: An Army officer has a recent DUI.
Outcome Without Help: Clearance revoked, career threatened.
NSLF Strategy: We submit treatment records, letters of support, and proof of sobriety. Clearance saved.

Hypothetical 3: Foreign Family Concern

Situation: An analyst’s parents live abroad.
Outcome Without Help: Clearance denied due to potential foreign influence.
NSLF Strategy: We show strong U.S. ties — spouse, mortgage, community service. Clearance granted.

FAQs

Q: What’s the single most common reason for denial?
A: Financial problems. But personal conduct (lying or omissions) is often the most fatal because it destroys credibility.

Q: Can I recover from a denial?
A: Yes. Many people win on appeal or successfully reapply with strong mitigation.

Q: Will marijuana use always disqualify me?
A: Not always — but disclosure and proof of abstinence are key.

Q: Should I try to handle my case myself?
A: No. Clearance appeals are specialized legal proceedings. Most applicants who go it alone lose.

The Bottom Line

Clearance denials and revocations are not random. They follow patterns — and with the right defense, they can often be overcome. If you’ve been flagged under one of these guidelines, don’t wait until it’s too late. Build your strategy now.

⚖️ NSLF’s Security Clearance Defense Package

When you retain the National Security Law Firm (NSLF), you don’t just get a lawyer—you get a battle-hardened team of government insiders, military veterans, and former judges who know exactly how the clearance system works from the inside out.

Here’s what you get:

✅ Free Consultation ($500 value) – No charge, no pressure
✅ Government Insiders – Insider perspective you won’t get elsewhere
✅ Attorney Review Board Guarantee – Your case reviewed by multiple clearance attorneys, not left to one lawyer’s judgment
✅ Flat-Fee Pricing, No Surprises – Know exactly what it costs
✅ Flexible Legal Financing – Through Pay Later by Affirm, spread payments over 3–24 months. Start today with $0 down
✅ Plus: NSLF’s Security Clearance Resource Hub – Direct access to one of the nation’s most comprehensive clearance libraries, relied on by thousands

💵 What Does It Cost to Fight Clearance Loss?

At NSLF, we believe in transparent, flat-fee pricing:

  • Statement of Reasons (SOR) Response: $5,000

  • Letter of Interrogatory (LOI) Response: $3,500 (with $3,000 credited if escalated to an SOR)

  • Hearing Representation (Includes Travel): $7,500

  • SF-86 Review: $950

We also offer flexible financing through Pay Later by Affirm.

👉 Learn more here

🛡️ Why Choose National Security Law Firm?

At NSLF, we are:

  • The go-to clearance firm with a 4.9-star Google rating

  • Attorneys with decades of combined experience in military law, federal employment, and DOHA litigation

  • Former adjudicators, prosecutors, judges, and federal investigators

  • Based in Washington, D.C., the hub of clearance decision-making

  • Built by disabled veterans who understand sacrifice

  • A team that meets weekly to strategize every complex case

Meet Our Elite Security Clearance Team:

  • Brett O’Brien – Founder, DOHA insider, Navy classified litigation + Army trial advocacy trained, 14+ years in intelligence & counterintelligence.

  • Luke Rose – 16 years Army National Security Law attorney, Iraq & Afghanistan deployments, intelligence law advisor.

  • Katie Quintana – Former DOE Administrative Judge & Acting Chief Judge, adjudicated clearance denials nationwide, FOIA expert.

  • Sean Rogers – Retired Army JAG Lt. Colonel, Special Victim Prosecutor, career litigator with clearance & national security experience.

🚀 Book a Free Consultation — Take Back Control

Whether your clearance has been denied, revoked, or is under review, we can help you build a winning defense. Don’t leave your career to chance.

👉 Book your free consultation here

It’s quick, easy, and confidential — and it may be the most important step you take today.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.