[Nice graphic]
Definitions: Top-secret: the most sensitive intelligence. Material, if made publicly available, would cause "exceptionally grave danger" to national security.
Confidential/secret: material, if made publicly available, would be "prejudicial" to or cause "serious damage" to national security
Numbers:
Overall, 5 million hold either a top secret or confidential/secret clearance. Of these 3.6 million are federal employees, 1.1 million are private contractors, and 0.3 million have an indeterminate status.
1.4 million total hold a clearance to handle top secret material. Of these, 800,000 are federal employees, 500,000 are private contractors, and 100,000 had a status the government couldn't confirm.
3.6 million hold a confidential/secret clearance. Of these, 2.8 million are federal employees, 600,000 are private contractors, and 0.2 million have indeterminate status. |