Lulu B. Drumheller v. Department of the Army

49 F.3d 1566, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 4546, 1995 WL 92590

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Decided: March 8, 1995
• Docket: 93-3482
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion for the court filed by Circuit Judge NIES. Dissenting opinion filed by Circuit Judge PAULINE NEWMAN.

NIES, Circuit Judge.

Petitioner Lulu B. Drumheller (“Drumheller”) seeks review of a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (“Board”), Docket No. PH0752910279-B-1, 58 M.S.P.R. 62 (1993), affirming her removal from a civilian position in the Department of the Army. Following the revocation of her security clearance and her eligibility for access to special eompartmented information (collectively referred to as “security clearance”), Drumheller accepted retirement for disability in lieu of her removal.

In prior proceedings, the Board held that it had jurisdiction to review her appeal because Drumheller was entitled to retire only if her removal was proper. Thus, the issues on appeal relate to the revocation of her security clearance, which is the only reason for her removal. More particularly, the issue is whether the Army denied her due process or violated applicable regulations in revoking her clearance.

For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

I.

BACKGROUND

As a secretary with the Army Foreign Science and Technology Center (“FSTC”), Drumheller was required to maintain a security clearance and eligibility for access to classified information. On November 7, 1989, pursuant to the provisions of Army Regulation (“AR”) 380-67, Bette Lyons, the Chief of the Adjudications Division of the U.S. Army Central Personnel Security Clearance Facility (“CCF”), acting for the Commander of the FSTC, notified Drumheller of the Army’s intent (“LOI”) to revoke her security clearance.

The LOI recounts the following events and sets out the grounds for revocation. Drum-heller has had a long history of psychiatric illness. In March of 1986, Drumheller’s security clearance had been suspended upon her hospitalization for psychiatric symptoma-tology. Contrary to her physician’s directions, she had discontinued taking daily prescribed Lithium prior to this hospitalization because she did not think she needed it. At the time of her admission to the hospital, her mental status had deteriorated significantly. Her supervisor, Colonel Hope, nevertheless recommended her continued employment because he believed that the experience would convince her of the wisdom of remaining on prescribed medication in order to retain a position at the Center. A favorable determination was made and her clearance was restored in July 1986.

On August 23,1989, Drumheller was hospitalized again for recurrent manic symptoms and questionable medication compliance. Her symptoms included hyperactivity, decreased need for sleep, changes in appetite, racing thought, increased activity at home and there was a question as to whether she was beginning to develop ideas of having special powers. Initially, she required security and restraint. Her treatment, prescribed prior to admission, had included maintenance therapy of Lithium carbonate and Tegretol. Drumheller admitted she had discontinued the Tegretol and had refused to take it in the future. The LOI concluded:

Your periodic refusal to take your prescribed medication, which results in unacceptable behavior due to your mental disorder affects your judgment and reliability and is considered incompatible with the standards established for access to SCI and the possession of a security clearance.

In addition to outlining the reasons for the proposed revocation, the LOI also explained the proposed action, and offered Drumheller a chance to reply, as required by AR 380-67.

On January 10, 1990, Drumheller, personally and through counsel, responded to the LOI. She did not challenge the facts of her illness and the events set out in the LOI but disagreed with the conclusion. She provided the Army with the results of a psychiatric evaluation conducted by a new doctor of her choice, Dr. Robert Brown, Jr., who stated that in his expert opinion Mrs. Drumheller’s illness was responsive to medication, that she had been and was willing to continue taking his prescribed medication and that, therefore, she posed no security threat. This time Colonel Hope recommended that her clearance be revoked. He stated in his written recommendation that her assurances that she “intended” to remain on the medication now prescribed were not an acceptable solution to him because she had quit her medication knowing the effect it could have on her career. He also noted that her physician stated that she had to remain under the care of a “qualified” physician whom she “will grow to trust.” Colonel Hope stated further that he did not feel that national security should depend on the competency of her private physician.

A group of Army psychiatrists reviewed the record and Drumheller’s response, and on March 7, 1990, concluded that Drumhel-ler’s conduct in discontinuing her medication “reflectfed] a defect in judgment, reliability and stability.” A one paragraph memorandum for the record summarized the meeting. About one week later, Commander Fullerton of the CCF notified Drumheller of his decision to revoke her security clearance. Noting her response, his letter indicated that, although the prognosis for recovery was “good”, her erratic behavior suggested the need for revocation for a period of approximately two years to ensure that there was no recurrence of her past problems. This letter also advised Drumheller that she might request reconsideration with the submission of additional mitigating information in her possession, or that she could appeal the revocation on the present record to a higher headquarters. On March 23, 1990, Drumheller filed an Freedom of Information Act request and discovered the March 7, 1990, memorandum.

On April 9,1990, the FSTC gave Drumhel-ler 30 days notice of her proposed removal because of her loss of security clearance. Further, the agency stated that it did “not have ANY nonsensitive positions to which [she] could be reassigned in lieu of removal.” In response, Drumheller argued that her security clearance had not been validly revoked because the system failed to provide minimum procedural due process. Drumheller argued she should have been given a hearing, that there was no medical evidence to support revocation except for the March 7,1990, memorandum, that she should have the opportunity to cross examine the medical experts on whom the agency relied, and have more than “limited” rebuttal. Further, she challenged the need for a security clearance for her position in the agency. Finally, she demanded a transfer within the Department of the Army and reasonable accommodation for her physical and mental problems and challenged the sufficiency of the Department’s search for another position.

The Army stayed further action on Drum-heller’s removal pending a decision on her May 14, 1990, request for reconsideration of the security clearance revocation. In that request, Drumheller discussed her ease, provided what she believed to be mitigating information, and addressed the memorandum (a copy of which she had obtained) documenting the March 7, 1990, meeting.

On June 13, 1990, the Army convened a meeting to reconsider Drumheller’s case. A memorandum documenting this meeting stated that one of the attendees, an Army psychiatrist, concluded that “subject’s condition [did] represent a potential defect in her judgment, stability and reliability.” On June 22, 1990, the Army notified Drumheller that on reconsideration, the revocation of her security clearance had been reaffirmed. Drumhel-ler obtained the June 13 memorandum pursuant to a subsequent FOIA request.

Drumheller then appealed to the Army’s Headquarters on August 15, 1990. In her appeal papers, Drumheller charged that the memoranda of agency meetings were medical evidence which she had had no opportunity to rebut. The Army Headquarters upheld the revocation, finding “that CCF did not err in reaching its decision.”

After the final decision on her security clearance, Drumheller’s removal was effected in November 1990.¹ Drumheller appealed her termination of employment to the MSPB which affirmed. The ALJ refused to consider the merits of an agency’s security clearance decision. With respect to the charge of procedural flaws, he rejected Drumheller’s argument that the agency violated Army Regulation 380-67 and denied her due process by consulting with several doctors concerning her mental condition without giving her the opportunity to cross-examine them.² Even assuming error, he held it to be harmless under 5 U.S.C. § 7701(c)(2)(A). She had made no showing that cross-examination would have changed the outcome. This appeal followed the full Board’s denial of Drum-heller’s petition for review of the ALJ’s decision.

Drumheller alleges that the decision to remove her from employment was based on an invalid security clearance revocation. In this connection, Drumheller argues that the Army’s revocation proceedings violated the procedural protections of AR 380-67 because the revocation was effected by “medical evidence” put in the record with no notice to Drumheller and no opportunity to respond. The same arguments are couched in constitutional language as a violation of due process.

II.

PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS

A. Statutory Procedural Protections

In Department of Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 108 S.Ct. 818, 98 L.Ed.2d 918 (1988), the Court considered the extent to which the Board, while reviewing an adverse action under 5 U.S.C. § 7513, may evaluate an agency’s decision to deny or revoke a security clearance. The Court concluded that the Board did not have authority to review the substance of the underlying security clearance determination, reasoning that:

The [Civil Service Reform Act, codified in 5 U.S.C.] by its terms does not confer broad authority on the Board to review a security-clearance determination. As noted above, the Board does have jurisdiction to review “adverse actions,” a term, however, limited to a removal, a suspension for more than 14 days, a reduction in grade or pay, and a furlough of 30 days or less. [5 U.S.C.] §§ 7513(d), 7512. A denial of a security clearance is not an “adverse action,” and by its own force is not subject to Board review. An employee who is removed for “cause” under § 7513, when his required clearance is denied, is entitled to the several procedural protections specified in that statute. The Board may then determine whether such cause existed, whether in fact clearance was denied, and whether transfer to a nonsensitive position was feasible. Nothing in the Act, however, directs or empowers the Board to go further.

484 U.S. at 530, 108 S.Ct. at 825 (emphasis added, citations omitted).

Egan thus clearly limited the MSPB’s review of an adverse action following an employee’s loss of a security clearance. Drum-heller, as an employee removed for cause when her security clearance was revoked, was entitled to: “the several procedural protections specified in that statute [5 U.S.C. § 7513(b) ].” Id. Section 7513(b) provides:

(b) An employee against whom an action is proposed is entitled to—

(1) at least 30 days’ advance written notice, ... stating the specific reasons for the proposed action;

(2) a reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to answer orally and in writing and to furnish affidavits and other documentary evidence in support of the answer;

(3) be represented by an attorney or other representative; and

(4) a written decision and the specific reasons therefor at the earliest practicable date.

5 U.S.C. § 7513 (1988).

Drumheller does not contend that the Army deprived her of the several procedural protections by § 7513. Indeed, our review of the procedural history shows that she could not allege otherwise. Drumheller did in fact receive at least 30 days’ advance written notice, a reasonable time to respond, representation, and a written decision.

In his opinion, the AJ concluded that cause for termination existed by reason of revocation of her security clearance, that an agency may require all employees to have a security clearance, and that Drumheller’s removal promoted the efficiency of the service.

B. Regulatory Procedural Protections

Next, Drumheller argues that the Board may review whether the agency complied with the procedures for revoking her security clearance and charges that she was denied the procedural safeguards of AR 380-67. Paragraph 8-200, Section II — Procedures, of that regulation recites: “[n]o final personnel security determination shall be made on [an individual] ... without granting the individual concerned the procedural benefits set forth in 8-201 below, when such determination results in an unfavorable administrative action.” The relevant portions of 8-201, which is lengthy, are set out in the margin below.³

Drumheller does not deny that the Army gave her a written statement as required by 8-201(a). Nor does Drumheller deny that the Army gave her an opportunity to reply, a written response, and an opportunity to appeal, as required by 8-201(b)-(d). Rather, Drumheller’s argument focuses on subpara-graph (2) of 8-201(a):

(2) When CCF receives credible derogatory information and denial or revocation of a security clearance and/or SCI access eligibility is considered appropriate, CCF will forward a letter of intent through the command security manager to the individual. This LOI will outline the derogatory information and explain the proposed action. It will offer the person a chance to reply in writing with an explanation, rebuttal, or mitigation for the incidents. (Emphasis added).

Drumheller argues that the memoranda documenting the March 7, 1990, and June 13, 1990, meetings of the Army personnel including psychiatrists are “medical evidence” to which she had no opportunity to reply.

Drumheller interprets 8-201 (a) (2) as giving her the right “to rebut all credible derogatory information that is the basis for decision at each level of the proceeding.” While not an unreasonable argument in theory, it has no applicability here. The regulations, 8-201(a)(2) and 8-201(b), give the employee against whom action is to be taken an opportunity to reply to the derogatory information in the Letter of Intent. The grounds therein must provide the basis for the action. Drum-heller does not deny that the Army gave her a chance to respond to the information therein respecting her mental illness, hospitalizations, and conduct. Indeed, she does not assert the LOI was factually incorrect in any respect. Most particularly, her responses verified the correctness of her supervisor’s information that she had again failed to comply with prescribed treatment and had to be hospitalized.

Drumheller argues that prior to the aforementioned meetings of agency personnel and absent the two memoranda, there was no competent medical evidence in the record sufficient to justify the revocation. Drumhel-ler states:

The basis for the purported revocation of the Appellant’s security clearance was her mental disorder. Under paragraph 2-200(j)[⁴] any revocation based on a mental disorder must be supported by competent medical authority.

First, the LOI was issued based on the competent medical evidence of record respecting her condition, none of which she disputes. Drumheller is simply wrong in her view that the “record” is initiated after the LOI. To the extent Drumheller’s arguments go to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the Army’s decision to revoke her security clearance, the clear answer is that the MSPB does not have jurisdiction to review the merits of such a decision, Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 580, 108 S.Ct. 818, 825-26; Lyles, 864 F.2d 1581 at 1583, and neither do we. See Manning v. Merit Systems Protection Board, 742 F.2d 1424 (Fed.Cir.1984) (for eases brought to the Board under 5 U.S.C. § 7701, this court’s jurisdiction is no broader than the scope of the jurisdiction of the MSPB); Rosano v. Department of Navy, 699 F.2d 1815 (Fed.Cir.1983) (same).⁵

With respect to a perceived procedural violation, Drumheller appears to have misapprehended the basis for the revocation. The LOI clearly indicates that the basis for the revocation was not her medical condition per se, which apparently was' controllable with medication, but was due to Drumheller’s imprudence in independently deciding for the second time to deviate from the prescribed treatment. Her supervisor’s conclusion that the latter conduct showed unreliability provided the basis for initiating the revocation. It thus appears that Drumheller’s position boils down to her belief that she was entitled to respond to the negative evaluations respecting whether the record supports the reasons for revocation given in the LOI. AR 380-76 simply does not so provide. The Army psychiatrists did not go beyond the grounds or the record set out in the LOI, and provided no new “derogatory” information. Contrary to Drumheller’s view, their participation was not “evidence” but part of the decision-making process.

We see nothing wrong with the Commander, who was charged with deciding whether or not to revoke her security clearance, seeking counsel from appropriate agency personnel before making that very serious decision. A recommendation to do so had been made by her direct supervisor because of his lack of confidence in her reliability and judgment in not following medical advice. If anything, the Commander’s actions suggests that he carefully cheeked out that recommendation so as to ensure the fairest decision would be rendered. Adopting Drumheller’s position would only encourage the Army to minimize the number of individuals involved and eliminate documentation of meetings. It would also mean the evaluation process would never end. Although so characterized by the dissent and Ms. Drumheller, the memoranda are not “medical evidence.” Rather, the memoranda simply summarized meetings during which the medical evidence of record was evaluated.

Even considering the memoranda as “medical evidence,” Drumheller obtained copies of both memoranda, albeit through FOIA requests she initiated, and had ample opportunity to respond and rebut them during the revocation process. In her May 14, 1990, request for reconsideration, Drumheller addressed the first memorandum. In her August 15, 1990, appeal to Army Headquarters of the CCF’s decision on reconsideration, Drumheller addressed both memoranda. We fail to see any violation of the pertinent regulations relating to revocation of a security clearance. Further, we have considered Drumheller’s arguments respecting harmful error and find them unpersuasive. See 5 U.S.C. § 7701(e)(2)(A); 5 C.F.R. § 1201.56(b)(1).

III.

CONCLUSION

Because Drumheller received the constitutional, statutory, and regulatory due process to which she was entitled, the decision of the Board is

AFFIRMED.

1 . As noted by the AJ in his opinion, Ms. Drum-heller’s removal was supposed to be effective November 2, 1990. The agency extended the date of her removal, however, to allow her to apply for discontinued service retirement.

2 . The dissent sets up the straw man that the Board failed to consider the Army’s compliance with Army Regulation 380-67, and then attacks the majority as making a de novo ruling. Contrary to the dissent, the Board opinion expressly rules on compliance with that regulation as here stated. Accordingly, the dissent's attack is entirely unfounded.

3 . 8-201. Unfavorable administrative action procedures

Except as provided for below, no unfavorable administrative action shall be taken under the authority of this regulation unless the person concerned has been given:

a.A written statement of the reasons why the unfavorable administrative action is being taken. The statement shall be as comprehensive and detailed as the protection of sources ... and national security permit....

b. An opportunity to reply in writing to such authority as the head of the Component concerned may designate....

c. A written response to any submission under subparagraph b, stating the final reasons therefor, which shall be as specific as privacy and national security considerations permit. ...

d. An opportunity to appeal to a higher level of authority designated by the Component concerned....

4 . Paragraph 2-200(j) of AR 380-67 prescribes revocation of a security clearance when "[a]ny behavior or illness, including any medical condition, which, in the opinion of competent medical authority, may cause a defect in judgment or reliability with due regard to the transient or continuing effect of the illness and the medical findings in such case.”

5 . The dissent quotes the AJ as holding that "allegations of due process need not be resolved.” The statement is taken out of context. Having found that the agency afforded her all procedural due process, he correctly did not consider her substantive due process arguments directed against the merits of the revocation decision.