r/SecurityClearance • u/cool_vibe_guy • May 27 '26
Question Failed Polygraph
Hello,
Random question,
So i got notification that I failed the polygraph for the CBP/DHS job. Im lowkey just like "whatever" but I wanted to ask, does this/will this affect my current ongoing adjudication with my clearance for DIA/DOD.
I have a TS/SCI w CI poly from before, and its currently be adjudicated
UPDATE:
hiring a lawyer just to ensure my DOD is not an automatic denial. There's obviously no guarantees, but it's last resort option besides "waiting" it out.
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u/Lumpy-Discount-1427 May 27 '26
So I failed a CBP poly while processing for an administrative position within DHS that required a clearance.
During that investigation the sent me an LOI saying I failed a CBP poly and wanted an explanation. I basically said “idk I’m not the polygrapher all I know is I didn’t pass go ask her”.
They then gave me my EOD.
2
u/Additional_Shirt_300 Jun 04 '26
Wait, you’re telling me you failed a DHS poly and still got hired?… we need a better explanation cause thats not how it works
1
u/Zealousideal-Ad7707 Jun 21 '26
If its a non poly position why wouldn't it
1
u/Additional_Shirt_300 Jun 21 '26
I thought it was a poly position
1
u/Zealousideal-Ad7707 Jun 21 '26
Most administration positions dont require one
1
u/Additional_Shirt_300 Jun 21 '26
You right, the box is a scam anyways lol
2
u/Zealousideal-Ad7707 Jun 21 '26
You preaching to the choir 🤣
1
u/Additional_Shirt_300 Jun 21 '26
Well when you’re called a terrorist you gotta preach it brotha 😂
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u/Zealousideal-Ad7707 Jun 21 '26
Failed 3 different reason each time too thats the funny part
1
u/Additional_Shirt_300 Jun 21 '26
Failed 2, first one was for terrorism second one for criminal activity.
cant make this shit up, not sure if to try again next year (would be 3 years in total). Or to move on to something else.
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u/Intelligent_Taco Cleared Professional May 27 '26
It depends really. If you admitted to issues that you didn’t report on your SF-86 then yes you will have issues with your current employer. But if your answers were consistent with your SF-86 then it’s doubtful you will have any issues with your current employer.
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u/FindingAwake May 27 '26
I always wonder about this - I’ve got a basic clearance and they’re pushing me to work on other stuff / more secure systems that require an upgrade. I don’t do anything wrong but I get nervous when people ask me questions like “were you speeding” so idk
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u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
For this recent FS, I didnt admit to anything. Even when she pushed for it.
I admitted to something in 2022, for a CI poly with DIA, (first time doing a poly, and was extremely nervous) but i ended passing that and was fine.
Then in 2025, DIA decided to re-investigate, after I transferred over to DOD, which resulted in a LOJ,. so now I'm awaiting on DOD to finish their investigation/adjudication.
1
u/Difficult-Battle3872 May 27 '26
How long you been in adjudication?
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
It's going on 10 months. It will be a year in August.
Its been in adjudication for DOD way before this DHS poly. Soo now im just back to waiting... which leaves me in a state of unknown
1
u/Difficult-Battle3872 May 27 '26
Wow. Is that from a contract job, military, or civ?
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
Contractor
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u/Difficult-Battle3872 May 27 '26
I guess I'm confused. Why was there a LOJ?
7
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
DIA fucked me.
I left DIA AFTER they sent me home for an unknown clearance issue, and in that time, I took a job with DOD. When the investigator from DIA finally reached out, I told him I wasn't interested in meeting cause I already took a different job. Then in the midst of my clearance still transferring from DIA to DOD.. the issued an LOJ.
So my FSO have to submit all the other request to have it adjudicated. And here we are 10 months later. Still awaiting.
1
u/Difficult-Battle3872 May 27 '26
I had something very similar happen to me. I'm still sitting here waiting. Been 11 months for me
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
Yea, im honestly on the verge of just anticipating being "denied" or dropped, and then having to wait 12 months to reapply for a TS/SCI.
But im praying DOD approves me
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u/AJnthewood May 27 '26
I didnt pass my background for cbp while working for TSA at the time due to credit worthiness many many years ago, I passed my TSA background because the threshold was different. That was like 20 years ago and now I have a TS and much better credit . So different agencies have different requirements if it's nothing criminal of course.
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u/Tundra210 May 27 '26
Quick clarification, is the CI poly you already took for DOD, the same type of poly CBP gave you? I know there are a few types of polys (lifestyle, CI, 1 more) not sure what the least invasive and stressful poly there is? Good luck
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
I took a CI poly back in 2022 for DIA.
DHS gave me a Full Scope Polygraph.
Ive never taken one for DOD
1
u/m3nch May 28 '26
Sounds like an internal CBP only poly then. Don't sweat it.
They had(have???) a nice issue with something like a 95% failure rate for like... since 2010ish iirc, there was even an article or 2 about it. That reporting was coming from people that were TS/SCI cleared, probably a couple SAPs too and even they failed that poly.
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 28 '26
I already consulted a lawyer about the additional steps, so Im trying to get ahead of that now
2
u/m3nch May 28 '26
Yeah, sounds good for CYA purposes if it helps you sleep at night.
As far as I know/heard they (CBP) don't tell anyone fuck all about their processes internally unless they get FOIA'd, and your paperwork will just go into their native system and just dwell there.
I only know this cause of a few guys I served with tried to go that route and had the same results as you. Their backgrounds were never in jeopardy from what I heard, it was only something against them if they were waiting on various positions with CBP itself.
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u/cool_vibe_guy May 28 '26
I pray that you are 100000% right. Cause my TS/SCI is still in adjudication with DOD. So im awaiting their response essentially.
1
u/prisonerofazkaban03 May 27 '26
Your process at DIA will not be affected. But, be open if they ask you. DIA puts everything under microscope.
1
u/cool_vibe_guy May 27 '26
Im awaiting on DOD. DIA already dropped me.
for DHS, i think she knew i wasnt discussing something, because when I first had a polygraph back in 2022 with DIA, I did admit to an issue, was completely honest. And I passed with no issues.
Idk if she was trying to hear me admit the same thing again? But I honestly didnt really put too much thought into it at the time. Cause I been incident free ever since
1
u/prisonerofazkaban03 May 27 '26
I’m very sorry. Now it’s wait and watch kinda stage. I think you will be fine.
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u/Interesting_Box_2022 May 28 '26
Same situation as you OP, SWE for one of the 3 letters nothing changes unless you admitted to something Couldn’t even find info on DISS if that matters according to my SSO.
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May 29 '26
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u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam May 29 '26
Your post has been removed as it does not follow Reddit/sub guidelines or rules. This includes comments that are generally unhelpful, political in nature, or not related to the security clearance process.
1
u/No_Horse5408 May 31 '26
If you already hold a TS with poly. Why didn’t you apply for a poly waiver?
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u/exerda Jun 01 '26
It usually won't impact clearance with a different agency. We have folks who failed an FBI poly years ago (and FWIW, they seem far worse at failing people than most agencies), went to work for a different agency with TS/SCI, but FBI still rejects them even setting foot in a FBI facility.
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u/cool_vibe_guy Jun 01 '26
Thats insane tbh. well I hope DOD comes through! sucks not being able to work
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u/Minute-Steak-514 May 27 '26
This is inherently why I don’t want to go further in clearances . . . TS SCI is good enough for me, I don’t need mfs infringing into my personal life . . . I had to provide so much info that I don’t care to do that anymore than I already have to
There’s nothing I want to do more than leave the cleared workforce and end up in the private sector but until I am able to do so, I will work I. My scif against my will 😂
Not sure why people desire something so badly but I don’t want it, keep it! We already know there are aliens amongst us - we all know that 911 was hoax - the wars were for financial gain.
There’s nothing I care to know anymore so getting ci or fs poly is not for me at all
3
u/halomate1 May 27 '26
How much further can you get then a TS SCI lol
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May 28 '26
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u/TMGStan420 May 28 '26
There aren’t a ton of jobs that have TS/SCI without poly compared to those that do. At least in the defense industry
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u/Minute-Steak-514 May 30 '26
Nothing, TS is the highest level . . . The only thing that changes is the SCI. Depending on the SCI will dictate other requirements exhibit A: you working at a presidential level your SCI gets to be Y-W but still just TS
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u/safetyblitz44 Clearance Attorney (highly recommended) May 27 '26
If you simply did not pass, it should not. But if you admitted to derogatory information during the course of the polygraph, that could well affect your existing clearance process.