Code of Federal Regulations Title 5. Administrative Personnel § 5.1312.23 Access to classified information

Classified information may be made available to a person only when the possessor of the information establishes that the person has a valid “need to know” and the access is essential to the accomplishment of official government duties. The proposed recipient is eligible to receive classified information only after he/she has been granted a security clearance by the EOP Security Officer. Cover sheets will be used to protect classified documents from inadvertent disclosure while in use. An SF–703 will be used for Top Secret material;  an SF–704 for Secret material, and an SF–705 for Confidential material. The cover sheet should be removed prior to placing the document in the files.