Under what condition may cleared DOD personnel have one-time or short-duration access to classified information at a higher level than authorized?

Cleared Department of Defense personnel may have one-time or short-duration access to classified information at a higher level than authorized specifically when an urgent operational or contractual exigency exists. This provision is in place to ensure that critical operations can proceed without unnecessary delays due to clearance level restrictions, assuming all other protocols are followed.

In situations where immediate action is necessary, such as time-sensitive missions or contractual obligations that cannot be met within the confines of usual clearance guidelines, this flexibility allows for necessary access while still maintaining overall security protocols. The urgency of the need must be well-documented and justified, and typically, higher-level personnel must be involved in the decision to grant such access.

The rationale behind this policy is to balance operational effectiveness with security requirements, ensuring that while sensitive information is properly protected, it can also be accessed under pressing circumstances to accomplish critical tasks or missions. This approach recognizes that there can be extraordinary situations where the established security measures may need to be temporarily adjusted.