Federal vs. Contractor Clearance Issues: What You Need to Know
From Security Clearance Careers Podcast by ClearanceJobs
May 27, 2026 · 9 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges faced by federal employees with suspended security clearances compared to contractors, featuring insights from attorney John Berry.
What happens when a federal employee loses access to their security clearance — and why is the process so different from the contractor world? On this episode, security clearance attorney John Berry joins Lindy Kyzer to break down the difficult reality facing cleared federal employees dealing with suspended clearances, indefinite suspensions without pay, and lengthy appeals processes. The discussion explores how agencies handle clearance suspensions, why federal employees often have fewer options than contractors, and what role the Merit Systems Protection Board actually plays in these cases. Berry explains why many employees face months — or even years — without pay while waiting for their clearance issues to be resolved, and shares practical advice on navigating appeals, outside employment, and long-term career recovery. If you work in the cleared community or federal workforce, this episode offers an honest look at one of the most stressful scenarios a national security professional can face — along with insight into how some employees successfully rebuild their careers after a suspension. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Lindy Kyzer
Guest: John Berry
Topics covered
- security clearance
- federal employees
- contractor issues
- suspension
- appeals process
- career recovery
Keywords
- security clearance
- federal employee
- contractor
- suspension
- appeals
- Merit Systems Protection Board
- career recovery
- employment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Merit Systems Protection Board
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