I could see them retaining clearance for whatever length of time (for such as if they returned to government or worked for a contractor), but giving them access to anything is insane.
but giving them access to anything is insane.
Exactly...security clearance is distinct from access and as such, they should have NO access. The fact they were awarded a clearance is moot without the access.
If the situation arose where they needed to have access, it could be given on a situation by situation basis i.e. they are asked their opinion on a sensitive issue taking their experience into consideration. But blanket access including briefing, not just no, hell no.
My understanding was that your security clearance was put in a kind of "suspended animation" for one year after you retired so that it could be turned back on fairly easily if you got a job with a contractor that required a clearance.
If it doesn't get reactivated after that year, the clearance is zapped and you start at square one.
That being said, no way should Brennan working for NBC have a clearance or receive any classified anything.
9YearLurker wrote: “I could see them retaining clearance for whatever length of time (for such as if they returned to government or worked for a contractor), but giving them access to anything is insane.”
Exactly. When I retired a couple of years ago, I was told my clearance would remain active for two years in case I decided to return.
This solves a problem. I left the military in the late seventies and they revoked my clearance the day I left. I came back to work as a civilian about 10 days later. The security folks said they would need a couple of months to get my clearance reinstated. Could have been a real issue.