Classification

Classified information in the United States is material that a government body deems to be sensitive and must be afforded additional protection to prevent unauthorized disclosure. Access is restricted by law or executive order to particular groups of people with the necessary security clearance and a need to know. Mishandling of the material can incur criminal penalties.

A formal security clearance is required to view or handle classified material. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation. Documents and other information must be properly marked "by the author" with one of several (hierarchical) levels of sensitivity—e.g. sensitive, confidential, secret, and top secret. The choice of level is based on an impact assessment; governments have their own criteria, including how to determine the classification of an information asset and rules on how to protect information classified at each level. This process often includes security clearances for personnel handling the information.

DOD Security Clearance Levels

In the United States Department of Defense and the majority of the federal government, there are three recognized levels of formal classification and one restricted/sensitive but unclassified designation. In addition, a variety of access or handling controls can be added through use of Special Access Program or SCI Codewords. Authority to administer and implement this system of classification is carried out via Executive Order 13526.

• UNCLASSIFIED - This material is not classified
• SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - Sometimes referred to as "RESTRICTED," the US typically avoids this marking as DOE has RD (Restricted Data) and FRD (Formerly Restricted Data) markings that could lead to confusion. This material is not classified but may not be freely distributed. Additional access controls may be placed on the material by its originator.

Collateral Security Clearances

• CONFIDENTIAL - Unauthorized release of Confidential material would cause "damage" or be prejudicial to national security.
• SECRET - The unauthorized disclosure of Secret material would cause "serious damage" to national security. In the United States, operational "Secret" information can be marked with an additional "LIMDIS" in the classification banner marking, to limit distribution. Such as "LIMDIS SIPR" to prevent the material from being removed from the SIPRNET secure network.
• TOP SECRET - Unauthorized release of Top Secret material would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security.

Special Access Programs (SAP)

Generally used for defense related operations, specific projects within the DOD, etc. Like SCI, these will be marked according to the specified SAP/SAR requirements. For instance, TK refers to TALENT-KEYHOLE, which has to do with satellite imagery collection. BYEMAN was another SAP to protect NRO sources.

Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI)

In addition to the general risk-based classification levels, additional compartmented constraints on access exist for intelligence codewords, such as (in the U.S.) Special Intelligence (SI), which protects intelligence sources and methods, or COMINT which protects sensitive Signals Intelligence collection platforms. Information in these compartments is usually marked with specific keywords in addition to the classification level.

A chart to make sorting DOE nomenclature easier

DOE Security Clearance Levels

Like the Defense Dept, DOE clears its personnel for access to specific material based on a background investigation and demonstrated need to know. Unlike DOD clearances, Department of Energy clearances are regulated and administered by law under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

A key difference between Energy and Defense material is that, according to the Atomic Energy Act: all knowledge related to the creation of nuclear weapons, ranging from nuclear fusion to the production of fissile material, as “born secret” regardless of where it originated — be it a discovery in a private industry lab, a university or someone’s shed. There are no other areas of United States law where it is illegal to discuss publicly-available information, indicating the high level of authority congress placed in DOE.

The term "Restricted Data" is used to denote certain nuclear technology. Information about the storage, use or handling of nuclear material or weapons is marked "Formerly Restricted Data". These designations are used in addition to level markings (Confidential, Secret and Top Secret). Information protected by the Atomic Energy Act is protected by law and information classified under the Executive Order is protected by Executive privilege. Markings would look like: TOP SECRET/RD, TOP SECRET/FRD, SECRET RD, CONFIDENTIAL FRD.

Classes of Information

• Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI) is a dissemination category for identifying, controlling and limiting the dissemination of unclassified information on the physical protection of special nuclear material, vital equipment and facilities.
• Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) is information removed from the Restricted Data category upon a joint determination by the Department of Energy (or antecedent agencies) and the Department of Defense that such information relates primarily to the military utilization of atomic weapons and that such information can be safeguarded adequately as classified National Security Information in the United States. For purposes of foreign dissemination, however, such information is treated in the same manner as Restricted Data.
• Restricted Data is all data concerning design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons; the production of special nuclear material, or the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy, but does not include data declassified or removed from the Restricted Data category under Section 142 of Public Law 83-703.
• The DOE classification system also encompasses other categories of military information, as well as the dissemination of nuclear-related information to other agencies.
• National Security Information (NSI) is information which requires protection against unauthorized disclosure in the interest of the national security of the United States and which has been determined to be classified in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12356 or any predecessor or successor order.
• Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) is that Top Secret Restricted Data, or Secret Restricted Data, revealing the theory of operation or design of the components of a thermonuclear or implosion-type fission bomb, warhead, demolition munition or test device. Specifically excluded is information concerning arming, fuzing, and firing systems; limited life components; and total contained quantities of fissionable, fusionable, and high explosive materials by type. Among these excluded items are the components which DoD personnel set, maintain, operate, test, or a replace. Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) is an access limiter used primarily within the DOD to control need-to-know access for nuclear weapon design information.

Clearance Levels

• Q Sensitive - allow access to Special Nuclear Material (SNM) category 1. An employee with a Q sensitive clearance could have access to nuclear weapons design, manufacture, or use data; disclosure could cause exceptionally grave damage to the nation.
• Q Nonsensitive - allow access to Special Nuclear Material (SNM) category 2. The higher the SNM category, the more readily the material could be converted to a nuclear explosive device. Categories 1 and 2 require special protection, such as armed guards.
• L - clearances allow access to Secret National Security Information and to Special Nuclear Material (SNM) categories 3 and 4, but not to Secret Restricted Data or SNM categories 1 and 2. Persons with L clearance may have access only to Confidential RD but may have access to both Confidential and Secret FRD and NSI. For an L clearance, the background investigation of a person is much less extensive -- hence much cheaper and quicker -- than for a Q. The two clearances do, however, require the same standards of personal conduct. Anything turned up by an investigation that would cause a Q to be denied would also cause denial of an L.
• Top Secret - An employee with a secret clearance could have access to weapons-related National Security Information; disclosure of this information could cause exceptionally grave damage to the nation.
• Secret - An employee with a secret clearance could have access to weapons-related National Security Information; disclosure of this information could result in serious damage to the nation.