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I spent 24 years in uniform and 15 as a DOD Civilian - was a Unit Security Manager in both positions.....when one leave the job that required the clearance, they are 'signed out" (legal document laying out charges for leaking any retained knowledge/holding on to unauthorized data, etc.) and their electronic record is tagged that they no longer have access (electronic record is only authorized method for checking/verifying authorization to access so any security manager in the world would access same database before allowing access).

Access is terminated but the clearance remains intact until it naturally expires as some folks end up working for other government agencies/contractors and some conditions allow reactivation of the clearance for a specific set of access....the clearance says one has been vetted for access - the specific job determines the actual allowed access and that is entered by the agency currently employing the individual...between assignments, many have their access turned off and then it can be turned back on by the gaining agency if/when needed for the actual job. When one leaves the job, access is "turned off" so anyone allowing access would be breaking the law....here's hoping their access was terminated when they left and nobody allowed them access since....