You’ve just been told your security clearance is at risk. Whether you received a Statement of Reasons (SOR), a Letter of Interrogatory (LOI), or were blindsided by unexpected questions during a background interview, one thing is clear:

You’re in the fight of your career—and what you do next will determine if you keep your clearance… or lose everything.

At National Security Law Firm, we’ve helped hundreds of service members, federal employees, and government contractors not only save their clearances—but come out stronger. In this blog, we’re giving you a straight-shooting look at what actually works when it comes to mitigating security clearance concerns.

Forget internet myths and outdated advice. These are the battle-tested strategies that turn government “no’s” into “yes’s.”

What Is Mitigation, and Why Does It Matter?

When your clearance is in danger, the government isn’t accusing you of being a bad person. They’re saying there’s something—past conduct, current risk, or lack of judgment—that could make you vulnerable to coercion or compromise.

But here’s the good news:

Every one of the 13 Adjudicative Guidelines includes specific mitigating conditions—spelled out in SEAD 4—that allow you to explain, clarify, and neutralize the concern.

The goal? Prove you are trustworthy, reliable, and no longer a risk.

Clearance Mitigation Strategies That Actually Work

We’ve distilled the most effective mitigation techniques into six core strategies. These apply across all guidelines, from finances to foreign contacts to drugs, alcohol, criminal conduct, personal behavior, and more.

1. Own the Problem—Don’t Minimize It

The worst thing you can do in a clearance case is make excuses, blame others, or downplay your behavior. The government wants to see accountability. The fastest way to build trust is to admit the issue, show insight, and explain what you’ve done to fix it.

Example:
You forgot to disclose an arrest on your SF-86. Rather than argue “it was just a misdemeanor,” explain why it was omitted, accept responsibility, and detail how you’ve corrected your forms and updated your understanding of reporting requirements.

Why It Works:
It shows maturity, honesty, and growth—all key to trustworthiness.

2. Show That It’s Old News (and Won’t Happen Again)

If the conduct happened a long time ago, hasn’t recurred, and occurred under unusual circumstances, that’s a powerful mitigator.

Example:
You had a DUI 10 years ago but haven’t touched alcohol since. You’ve passed every test, received glowing performance reviews, and have a supervisor who’s willing to vouch for your reliability.

Why It Works:
You’ve proven change through action—not promises.

3. Provide Evidence of Rehabilitation, Counseling, or Recovery

If your case involves drugs, alcohol, mental health, compulsive behavior, or financial mismanagement, mitigation depends on proof of treatment and improvement.

Example:
You were in debt after a divorce (Guideline F). You got help from a credit counselor, enrolled in a repayment plan, and have had a perfect payment record for 18 months.

Why It Works:
You turned a vulnerability into a strength—and can document every step of the turnaround.

4. Voluntary Disclosure = Huge Credibility Boost

Did you tell the government about the issue before they uncovered it?

That’s golden.

Example:
You self-reported a past drug use before your polygraph. You disclosed everything honestly—even things the government didn’t already know—and submitted to treatment.

Why It Works:
You proved you’re not hiding anything. Voluntary disclosure = trustworthy.

5. Fix the Underlying Risk

Sometimes it’s not about what you did—but what you could do if the conditions continue.

The government cares about vulnerability to coercion. Eliminate that risk.

Example:
You have close relatives in a foreign country (Guideline B). To mitigate the concern, you demonstrate:

  • No financial or political ties,

  • A strong allegiance to the U.S.,

  • That your relationship is distant or purely familial,

  • That you’ve received security training and are vigilant about foreign influence.

Why It Works:
You’re not just defending yourself—you’re closing the loophole.

6. Don’t Just Say It—Prove It

This might be the most important rule of all: documentation beats declarations.

Anyone can say they’ve changed. But when you show it—with letters, records, reports, evaluations, and performance reviews—you turn words into wins.

NSLF Pro Tip:
We help clients build exhibit packets with:

  • Credit reports and payoff statements

  • Drug test results

  • Counseling summaries

  • Updated SF-86 corrections

  • Letters from supervisors, military commanders, and therapists

  • Employment evaluations

How Much Does It Cost to Mitigate a Clearance Concern?

At National Security Law Firm, we charge flat fees—so you know exactly what to expect:

  • SF-86 Review – $950

  • SOR/LOI Response – $3,500

  • Clearance Hearing Representation – $7,500
    (Clients who hire us for the SOR stage receive a $3,000 credit toward the hearing)

We also offer legal financing through Pay Later by Affirm, which allows you to split payments over 3, 6, 12, or 24 months with no credit impact for checking eligibility.

Why Choose NSLF?

Read our 4.9-star reviews and see why clients trust us when everything is on the line.

  • We’re the go-to security clearance firm in the country.

  • Our team includes former clearance adjudicators, federal prosecutors, and JAG officers.

  • We’ve served in the same agencies reviewing your case—we know how they think.

  • We meet weekly as an Attorney Review Board to develop strategies for tough cases.

  • We’re located in Washington, D.C., the epicenter of federal clearance law.

  • Our attorneys hold or have held clearances themselves.

  • We represent clients nationwide, from junior service members to federal executives.

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

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper into the clearance process?

Visit our Security Clearance Practice Area Page to find powerful guides and tools, including:

  • Top Mistakes That Can Kill Your Clearance

  • How to Win a Security Clearance Hearing

  • Sample Mitigation Tactics by Guideline

  • Clearance Costs, Timelines, and Tips

  • Do You Really Need a Lawyer?

Stop Stressing—Let’s Fix This, Together

The sooner you respond, the stronger your defense.

Schedule a free consultation with our clearance attorneys today. We’ll tell you exactly what to do next—and start building your custom mitigation strategy from Day One.

✅ It’s fast.
✅ It’s free.
✅ And it could save your career.

👉 Book your consult now.
Let us take the stress off your shoulders—and take the fight to them.