Executive Order 13526 defines SCI as part of which overarching framework?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It Depends on the Facility
• D. Not Defined by EO 13526

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how SCI fits within the national security classification structure. Executive Order 13526 establishes the overall system for classifying national security information, including the three standard levels (Top Secret, Secret, Confidential) and the special handling rules that apply to Sensitive Compartmented Information. SCI isn’t a separate framework; it’s a subset within that overarching classification system that requires additional access controls, compartmentalization, and need-to-know determination because it concerns sensitive intelligence sources and methods. Therefore, stating that SCI is defined as part of the overarching framework defined by EO 13526 is correct. The framework is government‑wide and not dependent on a particular facility, and SCI is defined by EO 13526, not left undefined.