[ruthie_cohen]

People who haven’t worked in areas with classified/sensitive information don’t seem to appreciate that once you have the appropriate clearances, you’re considered trustworthy.

You are treated as one of the gang, and people will often willingly share information with you that may even fall outside of what you need to know.

If someone is motivated to then collect/disseminate that information, it is exceedingly simple. It is always going to be difficult to stop these sorts of leaks.

[hotpotamus]

I mean, I watched a reality TV/gameshow host run the executive branch for 4 years, culminating in a press conference at The Four Seasons Landscaping. I don't know who expects competence from the federal government anymore, but it isn't me.

[thewildginger]

The thing about something like this is that there are always individuals who will seek gain from classified access for themselves. The US has a singular focus on financial gain, but mental evaluation needs to be a more clear part to this.

The problem is "clout" seekers are all over the military. Have a conversation with a person in a highly selective field in the military and you'll find a crazy high amount of capable narcissists and God complex egos to go around.

This is why I'm saying to a degree this isn't a surprise to people in the IC.

[all2]

I'm in the same boat as you, but for very different reasons.

I have close to zero trust in the abilities or goodwill of Federal entities.