Back to Basics
Public Trust positions do not need access to classified national information. However, they do have access to sensitive, non-classified data or systems.
Security Clearance is required for those positions that require and grant access to classified national security information. There are three levels of clearances:
Confidential, Secret, Top Secret.
The public trust personnel vetting process is crucial for federal employment and contracting. This Department of Defence (DoD) compliant requirements ensures a process that is meticulous and evaluates an individual’s suitability for positions that, while not necessitating formal security clearances, are nonetheless essential for the smooth functioning of government agencies and organisations.
While commonly mistaken for a security clearance, “public trust” relates to an individual’s suitability and fitness for a role. This essentially determines whether an individual can be trusted to perform assigned duties, without granting access to classified information. Notably, suitability and clearance eligibility are separate determinations; an individual may be deemed suitable but ineligible for a clearance, or vice versa.
Public Trust Positions:
As we have established that these positions are different from national security positions by a margin, these positions are associated with roles that have the potential to significantly undermine public trust in government operations.
These positions include:
- Access to sensitive but unclassified information, information that can easily be found on public records or medical reports.
- Decision making authority on government programs.
- Roles that involve and influence law enforcement.
While Security Clearance has 3 levels, namely Confidential, Secret and Top Secret, Public Trust positions are classified into two levels: Tier 2 and Tier 4.
Tier 2 is moderate risk and involves moderate impact on public trust.
Tier 4 involves high-level impact or risk and includes roles with significant trustee responsibilities.
Public Trust vs Security Clearance: Key Similarities
While they may seem different for most things, there are some crucial overlaps between public trust positions and those that require security clearance.
They are based on the same adjudicative guidelines. Basic things like criminal backgrounds, financial statements, drug involvement, personal conduct and foreign influence are necessary points on the checklist for both. These are designed to get a baseline for an individual’s character so that they can clear these and move on to the next set of interviews or examinations.
They both involve background checks, even though the intensity differs in both. A basic background check will involve a verification process of personal information, an individual’s employment history, credit checks and a rigorous criminal history check.
Regardless of Public Trust positions for unclassified information or those that require strict clearance, the baseline for public trust clearance and security clearance is to establish a level of trustworthiness. This is done to protect and prioritize sensitive information and maintain public confidence.
While security clearance comparison with public trust will show us that one is a higher level of risk over the other, it is still a risk nonetheless and requires ground level mitigation. Breach in confidence can impact government operations for both levels. A breach of trust in either type of position can lead to serious consequences, including damage to national security or erosion of public confidence.
Any individual gearing up for either a public trust position or a security clearance required role will have to delve into their personal information. The only difference is that during security clearance, the individual will have to provide more information for a thorough background check.
Public Trust vs Security Clearance: Key Differences
The key differences remain, even though they will have similar impact on goodwill as well as breaches.
Let’s take a look at the differences:
| Public Trust | Security Clearance | |
|---|---|---|
| Background Investigations | Public Trust investigations prove to be less intense, driving their sole focus on criminal history, credit checks and employment history. | Security Clearance, comparatively, is in-depth and it includes interviews, foreign influence contracts and depending on the level of security clearance needed, sometimes a polygraph examination is included, too. These are compliant to DoD security requirements. |
| Sensitivity Level | The level of information provided can be sensitive but these are only unclassified information. | The level of information provided here is high sensitivity, to the point where any form of leak can compromise national security. These are most typically classified information. |
| Adjudication Process | Generally quicker and less rigorous. | Due to the intensity of security clearance procedures in general, the level of adjudication process involves multiple agencies with strict criterias, over and beyond the lengthy and thorough process. |
| Scope and Impact | Public Trust positions are less likely to pose a national security breach, due to only unclassified information being accessible. | These positions are high risk and will lead to high-level implications should there be a national security breach as the information is classified and accessible only to those with specific security clearance. |
Security Clearance Roles
The risk involved in divulging classified information to an individual exists perpetually. Hence, these jobs require a rigorous vetting process and are intense and lengthy, subject to various background checks and clearances.
- Agencies and Departments: Intelligence Agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DSA), Department of Defence (DoD) that include military personnel, civilians working in defence-related roles or defence projects, Department of Homeland Security (DoHS), Department of Energy (DoE), Department of Justice (DoI) and Department of State (DoS) are all classified roles.
- Job Roles: The job roles for these positions include roles within IT and CyberSecurity, Intelligence Analysis, Law Enforcement, Scientific and Technical Roles, Administrative and Supportive Roles.
As these roles are intricately entwined with the functions of the government and entrusted with the information that could lead to national security breach in case of a leak or compromise, security clearance processes are righteously strict and in-depth.
Contractors working in defence related projects or even civilians working in defence related roles are vetted continuously for risk mitigation. Hence, these security clearance roles vary in sensitivity levels and require appropriate levels of security clearance for accessibility.
Key Points for Hiring Managers
- A baseline for trustworthiness: In order to attain public trust clearance, hiring managers need to establish a communication process that lets the individual know the level of risk and security clearance involved and the consequences of a breach, should there be one.
- Digital Innovations: The best way to streamline this process to not only cut down on the amount of effort required but also to ensure a smooth transition, is to involve digital tools like the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) that helps centralise data and process efficiency.
- Continuous Vetting: To enhance risk mitigation across the federal workforce, continuous vetting is expanding beyond security clearance holders to include the public trust population. This system utilizes technology mentioned in the aforementioned point, to provide real-time monitoring of personnel, enabling identification of potential risks and breaches.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between Public Trust and Security Clearance in 2025, alongside the implementation of Continuous Vetting for federal jobs, is vital for federal contractors and hiring managers. By placing accurate designations and embracing active monitoring, organizations can build a reliable workforce, maintain compliance, and safeguard both national security and public confidence.
So, are you ready to strengthen your team with confidence? Looking forward to Hire for a Cleared Role?
A: It comes down to the type of information the role interacts with. Public Trust roles deal with sensitive but unclassified data like HR, IT support, or finance. Security Clearance is required when a role involves access to classified national security information that could harm the country if exposed.
A: Not directly. Public Trust clearance shows a candidate is suitable to handle sensitive but unclassified data. Moving into a Security Cleared role means undergoing a completely new investigation, security paperwork, and an agency-specific adjudication process.
A: It can feel similar because both look at employment history, criminal record, and finances. However, Security Clearance background checks go deeper, often including interviews with neighbors, foreign contact reviews, and, at higher levels, even polygraph tests.
A: AMany assume Public Trust is just a lower level of clearance — but it’s not. Public Trust measures a candidate’s trustworthiness for non-classified but sensitive roles. It doesn’t authorize access to any classified national security information.
A: Yes. Issues like lying on paperwork, criminal activity, financial irresponsibility, or misuse of systems can result in losing either Public Trust or Security Clearance. But clearance revocation usually involves a formal security hearing and appeal process.
A: Absolutely. Public Trust investigations typically take several weeks, depending on the role and investigation level. In contrast, Security Clearance — especially at Secret, Top Secret, or SCI levels — can take several months to over a year due to the depth of the investigation.
A: No, polygraphs are not part of Public Trust. Polygraph exams are usually required only for roles tied to highly classified intelligence programs, especially SCI or certain TS roles within agencies like NSA or CIA.
A: Yes, it’s possible if their job duties require both. For example, someone working on a classified project (requiring clearance) but also accessing sensitive unclassified systems (requiring Public Trust) may need to hold both designations, processed separately.
A: Yes, but they differ in timing and complexity. Public Trust reinvestigations might happen every 5-10 years. Security Clearances require more frequent updates, and higher clearance levels may involve continuous evaluation or periodic reinvestigation every 5 years or sooner.
A: Start by correctly identifying the role’s risk level. Clarify whether Public Trust or Security Clearance is needed, engage your Facility Security Officer (FSO) early, and avoid assuming one process fits all. Mislabeling roles can lead to costly delays or compliance violations.
