SCIF: Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility

[Pacifist Patriot]

My apologies to anyone who doesn't need this information. I don't intend to be condescending, but I think it's important to understand what this is given the events that have transpired today. So this is for anyone seeing the acronym and perhaps not being all that familiar with it.

Pronounced "skiff," this is a secure location controlled by the federal government or operating under federal government guidelines for the storage, processing, and discussion of sensitive data and information.

It can be a permanent location or portable - set up in a hotel for officials who are traveling or at operation centers at an emergency response site for example.

It can be one tiny room with a small server in it or a large enclosed area where people can meet. (ETA: It could be a whole building for that matter.)

There are extremely strict rules governing their construction, maintenance, operation, and use. Seriously strict! I work for a DoD contractor. I report directly to the CEO. Our Facilities Manager and Facilities Security Officer both report to me. I have never been inside our SCIF. You don't cross the threshhold without an invitation and a damn good reason to be in there.

The fact that Republican congressman entered a SCIF uninvited, some with cell phones (a BIG FAT HUGE NEVER EVER DO THAT!), is a big deal. They didn't just disrupt impeachment proceedings, they violated federal government security protocols to do so. That chills me, it seriously does.

[genxlib]

1. Thank you for that info

[2naSalit]

2. Arrest AND Censure for all of them

should be the next move.

[Cartaphelius]

3. LOCK THEM UP!

Everyone that crossed the threshold. Strip tem of teir rght to partipate futher in our government, the one tht pay tem and the very one they voluntarily SORE THEIR ALLGENCE TO (many if time, time and time again thru the years). They are Traitrs to AMERICA and to the RULE OF LAW.
And as such should be detained as such in a Military Detension Facility, immediately.


FULL STOP.

[Cartaphelius]

4. Treat them as the TRAITORS

that they are. LOCK THEM ALL UP.
Have Mr.McCarty appoint interum replacements for them to serve.

Then proceed as required by the Constitution at another
SKIF location.

Rince & Repeat if necessary.

FULL STOP

[crickets]

5. Needed info and thank you for it!

I am stunned - that they apparently barged in from three doors at once (?) means this was planned. Loss of security clearances and legal consequences are absolutely necessary. Blatant disregard for rule of conduct and rule of law can't be brushed off. Name and shame, and then PUNISH because there is no excuse.

Oh, jeez, it's Matt Gaetz again apparently. (tweet from different Matt!)

Link to tweet

Various twitter responses:

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SCIF

[tblue37]

6. K&R for visibility. nt

[eleny]

7. Physical Security Standards for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities

https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/dcid6-9.htm

So where the heck were the guards?

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. Guards aren't necessarily required. It depends on the type of SCIF and what it's being used for.

Our SCIF, for example, doesn't utilize guards because of the location, the types of locks, the access control system, and the exterior visual surveillance system, among other things.

[eleny]

12. Since Gaetz already made a grandstand move then it's time for guards

Just wait. They'll announce it after today's intrusion.

[StarfishSaver]

13. Exactly. On the Hill, it's usually just staff that monitors and lets people in and out of the room

They're not going to seriously challenge any Member coming in.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Thank you SO MUCH for this important information!

I was wondering what it meant.

This is seriously subversive action on the part of the republicans. It chills me as well.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. You're welcome.

I'm so used to the term that I wasn't sure if I should post or not. I was afraid it might be a "water is wet" post. LOL!

[StarfishSaver]

11. Thanks for sharing this info

The idea of someone taking a cell phone into a SCIF is off the chain! I've attended meetings and briefings in a SCIF and we can't even take our Fitbits in, much less a cellphone!

This behavior is so outrageous, I hope a censure resolution is moved on these people.

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. Censure is definitely warranted.

Thanks for posting the twitter thread by Eoyang. Great explanation of why this was such an egregious NatSec threat. I can see people wondering why it's such a big deal. A lot of implications most folks never have to consider.

[StarfishSaver]

22. Yes.

Censure is probably the only action the majority can take.

[struggle4progress]

14. They should be reminded on the rules governing the secure location, together with the standards

of behavior expected for House members, and these matters should be referred to the Ethics Committee for its recommendation

[bdamomma]

15. Thank you so much for the information

but will these people be held for crimes. Could they all be arrested for this????

[Pacifist Patriot]

32. Theoretically, they could be arrested. If you or I had done that, we certainly would be.

As sitting members of Congress, they won't be. I'm not sure what consequences they'll face in the long run, but I sure hope it's something. At the very least they should be censured and barred from ever holding a security clearance in the future.

[StarfishSaver]

33. It's difficult to find a basis for them to be arrested.

As Members of Congress, they have full run of the Capitol complex, so it's difficult to charge them with trespass. As for bringing electronics in to the SCIF, I haven't researched it, so I don't know if that's a violation of law and, if it is, if it's an offense but that merits arrest.

They'll continue to have security clearances as long as they're Members of Congress. They could be denied clearances for any other job - but let's not forget that the president can give a clearance to anyone he wants, so as long as Trump's in office, they probably wouldn't be denied access to anything they wanted to see.

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. Exactly

[central scrutinizer]

16. But we have iPhone pix of

Ambassador Taylor’s opening statement. Were those taken inside the SCIF? I’m confused.

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. I've been wondering about that myself.

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. Upon reflection, Taylor must have testified in a different room.

Possibly Cooper was in the SCIF because she is DoD not DoS and more sensitive information could have been involved.

Also, if Taylor was in the SCIF all hell would have broken loose when the photos of his opening statement was released.

[StarfishSaver]

23. His statement could have been taken out of the room if it wasn't considered classified

Someone probably photographed a copy of it that a Member took with them. No big deal.

[Pacifist Patriot]

27. That occurred to me as I was drifting off to sleep last night.

A bit sleep deprived this week. My mental faculties are suffering!

[PufPuf23]

17. Thank you for the concise explanation of SCIF.

The GOP stunt was way over the top.

Must be dealt with ASAP and not ignored in aftermath.

[llmart]

21. Thank you for the Cliff Notes on what SCIF is all about.

I am a tiny bit embarrassed to say I'd never heard the acronym before and had no idea what it meant.

I learn so much from DU'ers.

[Pacifist Patriot]

31. My company has one, and my own husband didn't know what it was.

He's away on a business trip in a different time zone so we've mostly been communicating via text. He sent me a link to the story about the dumbass congressmen late last night and said he wondered what a SCIF was. I realized I've worked here for almost ten years and it's just never come up in conversation since it's such a normal thing in my environment. I'm weird though. I think I was 14 before I realized not everyone had a piano in their living room. I had grown up thinking it was standard in houses every bit as much as dining room tables and beds.

[SMC22307]

24. What do you think should, or will, happen to these Republicans?

And not condescending all, but interesting. Thanks.

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. At the very least, they should be formally censured by the House.

They should be barred from ever holding any level of security clearance once their term of office is over. That would preclude them from being able to obtain any number of appointments/jobs with the federal government or government contractors.

Any ranking members in that mob (I don't know if there were any) should immediately be stripped of their committee seniority.

I'd like to see their Democratic opponents effectively use this in their campaigns if possible. It certainly shouldn't be forgotten.

[dalton99a]

25. Kick

Obama in SCIF in residence of Chief of Mission in Cuba:




SCIF in a tent in Brazil:

[Pacifist Patriot]

29. Cool pictures, thanks!

The one and only SCIF I've ever been in looked like a normal conference room, quite plush actually.

[orangecrush]

26. Gaetz is used to no consequences

And like his psychopath hero Trump, believes rules are for other people.

That he got that many to join him tells me who was getting the most money from Rudy and pals.

They have the most to lose when the truth comes out.

[Pacifist Patriot]

30. Well, when daddy gets you out of your DUI busts...

why should you think you'll ever face consequences for your actions.

[orangecrush]

35. Exactly.