DSS has nothing to do with POTUS clearance requirements. POTUS is not under DOD.
REPOST:
Actually I’ve been researching this for two months. For the POTUS, there never has been a formal background investigation. That’s because is was always informally handled by the respective Parties at the urging of Congress.
The only “official” policy I find on Security Clearances in Gov’t, which include employees, are E.O.’s 12958 (Clinton 1995) and 13292 (Bush 2003)
However, these E.O.’s both refer to the Security Policy Board, which Bush abolished in Feb of 2001, which is referred to as National Security Presidential Directive 1.
For members of Congress and their staff...
Atomic energy “Restricted Data” (42 U.S.C. 2162-2168) and “intelligence sources and methods” (50 U.S.C. 403(d)(3)) —
is specified in statute and subsequent rules issued, respectively, by the Department of Energy and Director of National Intelligence.
Other controlled information — such as “sensitive security”
and “sensitive but unclassified” information — is determined largely by executive directives.
Basically, the POTUS establishes a need for a requirement of a National Security Clearance, and delegates to the National Security Board (NSA) to determine the level and the prerequisites.
Congress is actually charged with regulating, by on the record inference, the suitability of the POTUS.
Not sure what we’re arguing about. DUmmies (and some here) think that there is some vetting process for Presidential candidates, that POTUS is somehow required to hold a security clearance. Simply not true. As you say, POTUS is CIC and heads the DOD and so is not subject (himself) to the EOs that he signs re: security.
Point is DumbO was never vetted by any security agency (and it would have been DSS).