SCHOOL THESIS

Under Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 701, 24 senior officials of the
Intelligence Community (IC) must immediately notify the director of National
Intelligence (DNI) and, if applicable, “law enforcement of any actual or suspected
unauthorized disclosure of classified information, including any media leak, that is likely
to cause damage to national security interests, unless the disclosure is the subject of a
counterespionage or counterintelligence investigation.” 25
Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704 establishes policy for sensitive
compartmented information (SCI) and its protection and provides for the ODNI oversight
of the program. Section D.4 allows for temporary access during national emergencies.
Section E lists standards required to be eligible to receive a clearance while Section F
lists exceptions to those standards. 26
Executive Order 13526, Classified National Security Information, provides “a
uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security
information...” and stresses that “protecting information critical to our Nation’s security
and demonstrating our commitment to open Government through accurate and
accountable application of classification standards and routine, secure and effective
classification are equally important priorities.” 27 All information determined to have the
potential to cause damage to national security is classified under this order.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Instruction Handbook 121–01-007
provides direction for the DHS Personnel Suitability and Security Program and
“establishes the procedures, program responsibilities, minimum standards and reporting
24 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence Community Directive Number 701:
Security Policy Directive for Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information (Washington, DC: Office
of the Director of National Intelligence, 2007), http://fas.org/irp/dni/icd/icd-701.pdf, 4.
25 Jennifer K. Elsea, The Protection of Classified Information: The Legal Framework (Washington,
DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013), 7.
26 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence Community Directive Number 704:
Personnel Security Standards and Procedures Governing Eligibility for Access to Sensitive Compartmented
Information and Other Controlled Access Program Information (Washington, DC: Director of National
Intelligence, 2008), http://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICD/ICD_704.pdf
27 Exec. Order No. 13526.
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