Public Trust vs. National Security Positions

• Public Trust

  Public Trust positions have the potential for adverse impact on either the integrity and/or efficiency of the organization's mission. These positions have a moderate risk or high risk sensitivity level designation. High Risk positions have the potential for exceptionally serious impact on the integrity and/or efficiency of the organization's mission; and Moderate Risk positions have the potential for moderate to serious impact on the organization's mission. These positions do not require a security clearance, but they do require a background investigation to determine an employee's suitability to occupy the position. Public Trust positions require the completion of the Standard Form (SF) 85-P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions.

  A “public trust" position should not be confused with a “trust fund" employee position.  The former refers to a type of position designation, which applies to both federal and trust fund employees, whereas the latter refers to a non-civil service position that is unique to the Smithsonian.

  ---

   

• National Security

  National Security positions are positions that have the potential to cause damage to national security. These positions have Non-Critical Sensitive, Critical Sensitive, or Special-Sensitive sensitivity level designations. Many of these positions also require access to classified information at the Confidential, Secret or Top-Secret level. Positions with Top Secret access have the potential for exceptionally grave damage to national security; Secret access has the potential for serious damage to national security; and Confidential access has the potential for damage to national security. National Security positions require the completion of the Standard Form (SF) 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The Smithsonian Institution does not have any classified information and therefore maintains no national security positions.