What is the Smith amendment?

Answer 1

The Smith Amendment,@ 10 U.S.C. 986, which was enacted in October 2000,

prohibits the Department of Defense from granting or renewing a security clearance to

anyone who was convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than a year in jail, who is an

employee of the Department of Defense, a member of Armed Forces on active or inactive

status, or an employee of a defense contractor. Since its enactment hundreds of people,

many of whom who have had clearances for 20 or 30 years, have had their security

clearances revoked. Although the Smith Amendment allows DoD to grant a waiver, almost

none have been allowed.