Almost all Civil Service positions in the U.S. Department of State require at least a Secret security clearance, and many require Top Secret clearance. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law (including federal drug laws), drug or alcohol abuse; or less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces.