H.R. 538 – CLEARANCES Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:15 AM UTC

The CLEARANCES Act would add a new chapter to Title 5 of the U.S. Code that requires the President to provide quarterly reports to specific House and Senate committees about security clearances for all staff and detailees in the White House and the Executive Office of the President. The reports must detail who holds clearances, the type and level of those clearances, investigation dates, any overrides of security recommendations, and any revocations or long‑term interim clearances. The goal is to increase transparency and congressional oversight of who has access to classified information in the highest levels of the executive branch.

Key Provisions

The President must submit a report every three months to designated House and Senate committees about security clearances for anyone working in the White House or the Executive Office of the President.
The report must list each person’s name, job title, and whether they hold a security clearance, including the clearance level and whether it is temporary or permanent.
For people detailed from other agencies, universities, think tanks, or the private sector, the report must note the source organization.
The report must include dates of background investigations, adjudications, and any interim notifications.
It must identify anyone who received a clearance despite an unfavorable recommendation from the White House Security Office or other agency, and note when that decision was made.
It must also list anyone given access to classified information without a listed clearance, the date access was granted, and the classification level.
The report must note any clearance that has been revoked or suspended, and any interim clearance held for more than a year with a justification from White House Counsel.
The bill defines the “appropriate congressional committees” that will receive the reports and adds a new Chapter 102 on Security Clearances to Title 5.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 14, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 14, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 14, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 14, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 538

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 14, 2019

Mr. Ted Lieu of California (for himself, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cohen, Miss Rice of New York, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Raskin, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Clay, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to require a quarterly report on security clearances for individuals working in the White House or the Executive Office of the President, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Commonsense Legislation Ensuring Accountability by Reporting Access of Non-Cleared Employees to Secrets Act or the CLEARANCES Act.

2.

Report on security clearances for individuals working in the White House and Executive Office of the President

(a)

In general

Subpart I of part III of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 10106 the following:

102

Security Clearances

Sec.

10201. Report on individuals working in the White House and Executive Office of the President.

10201.

Report on individuals working in the White House and Executive Office of the President

(a)

In general

Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this section and every 3 months thereafter, the President shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on security clearance information on any individual working in the White House or the Executive Office of the President, including—

(1)

the President’s staff or any other individual in the White House or Office whose function is to advise or assist the President; and

(2)

any individual who is detailed from the Government, a university, a think tank, or the private sector to the White House or the Office.

(b)

Report requirements

A report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

The name and position of any individual working in the White House or the Office and who holds a security clearance.

(2)

With respect to any detailee, the entity or agency from which the individual was detailed.

(3)

With respect to any clearance listed pursuant to paragraph (1)—

(A)

whether the clearance is temporary or permanent and level of the clearance;

(B)

the date the background investigation was initiated and the date of adjudication (if any); and

(C)

the date of any interim reports or notifications from the investigating agency.

(4)

The name and position of any individual working in the White House or the Office who was granted a security clearance by the President or other authorizing personnel despite an unfavorable recommendation from the White House Security Office or an agency, and the date the decision was made to grant the clearance.

(5)

The name and position of any individual not contained in any list above whom the President has provided access to classified information, the date the information was so provided, and the level of classification of the information.

(6)

The name and position of any individual working in the White House or Office—

(A)

whose security clearance has been revoked or suspended and the date of such revocation or suspension; or

(B)

who held an interim security clearance for a period longer than one year, and a justification from the White House Counsel as to why it is in the national security interest of the United States to keep the employee in the position without a permanent security clearance.

(c)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committees on Oversight and Reform and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate; and

(2)

the term Office means the Executive Office of the President.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of chapters for such title is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 101 the following:

102.Security Clearances10201

.