Which statement describes who debarment may apply to?

• A. Only applicants.
• B. Only employees.
• C. Anyone adjudicated for suitability, whether they are an applicant, an appointee, or an employee.
• D. Only appointees.

Answer: (C)

Debarment in suitability adjudications is meant to protect trust and safety by disqualifying individuals who have been found unsuitable from serving in positions of responsibility. The most accurate description is that debarment may apply to anyone adjudicated for suitability, whether they are an applicant seeking a job, an appointee who has already been placed, or an employee. This broad applicability reflects that concerns about suitability can arise at different stages of a person’s relationship with the agency, and the remedy can affect future service or ongoing duties regardless of current status. Narrow options—restricting debarment to only applicants, only employees, or only appointees—ignore the fact that unsuitability findings can impact people in all three categories.