Kevin CollierJul 15, 2023
This is truly jaw-dropping. Absolutely no one's doubting her credentials. A young Black woman already doing the job of acting National Cyber Director can't get formally Senate confirmed in that role because she has debt?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/15/kemba-walden-nomination-cyber-director/
Personal debts said to scuttle nomination of Biden’s acting cyber director

The White House has said it won't nominate Kemba Walden to be national cyber director over personal debts. The rationale has stunned colleagues.

The Washington Post
Show threadDaniel AJ SokolovJul 16, 2023
@kevincollier
I don't know the details/politics of this specific case. But I know that #debt is a serious #risk factor for security #clearances. Ask any #intelligence agency.
Show threadRagnell the Mildly UnpleasantJul 16, 2023
@newstik @kevincollier Yeah, but you can still get the clearance as long as you make it clear you have debt. No one's without a weak spot, and if you're honest about yours they expect you'll come to them if someone tries to press your weak spot.
Show threadRenée
@ragnell @newstik @kevincollier like, who doesn't have student loans and a mortgage? That disqualifies anyone but trust fund babies FFS.
Jul 16, 2023 at 2:10amWeb
Show threadDaniel AJ SokolovJul 16, 2023

@reneestephen @ragnell @kevincollier Now you know why it is so important that public servants receive student loan relief.

Now having debt isn't an automatic disqualification. I don't process security clearances, but I assume that debt amount in relation to income as well as assets, trend (these relations going up/down), credit rating, non-imminent liabilities (a family member with a severe illness/addiction/connection to crime, being sued for damages by a third party, etc) play a role.

Show threadRenéeJul 16, 2023

@newstik And here I was thinking that free tertiary education and not saddling people with debt to achieve it was simply something that healthy countries provided for citizens because education is a strong social good, but sure, this is a good reason too

@ragnell @kevincollier

Show threadDaniel AJ SokolovJul 16, 2023
@reneestephen @ragnell @kevincollier #Education you don't have to pay for supports upward social mobility. How would that be in the immediate interest of the elite?