US citizenship is critical for SCI access eligibility.

U.S. citizenship is indeed critical for eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI). This requirement stems from the need to ensure a high level of trustworthiness and reliability among individuals granted access to sensitive national security information. As such, only individuals who have established a loyalty to the United States – which is typically demonstrated through U.S. citizenship – can be considered for SCI access.

The rationale behind this requirement includes protection of national interests and maintaining the integrity of classified information. Non-citizens may not have the same legal obligations or ties to the U.S., which can complicate the trust assessment necessary for handling classified materials. Thus, U.S. citizenship serves as a baseline criterion to ensure that individuals with access to SCI can be thoroughly vetted and are accountable to U.S. law and security protocols.