Security clearances at a glance
Here's a quick look at how many people have access to sensitive government information.
Edward Snowden, the self-identified whistleblower who leaked documents about the National Security Agency's PRISM surveillance program, is a contractor employee with a security clearance -- one of several million government and contractor employees with access to secret information. Here's a quick look at how many others there are, as of Oct. 1, 2012, in thousands. (Note: The "secret" category also includes "confidential.")
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Government | |
| Contractor | |
| Other/Unknown | |
SOURCE: Office of the Director of National Intelligence Report on Security Clearance Determinations for fiscal year 2012. (Click here to read the full report.)
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