Opinion ID: 1439705
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether Makky was Objectively Minimally Qualified

Text: In this case, we need not dwell on when or how a plaintiff's qualification for an objective requirement for the position at issue should or will be raised because Makky included in his complaint the fact that in January 2005 the TSA suspended his security clearance. Although the suspension was not a final decision, it nevertheless rendered Makky ineligible for access to National Security Information, App. at 117, and therefore it is not relevant that the decision was not final. Makky does not dispute that his position required him to have access to National Security Information. The lack of a security clearance in a position such as Makky's is akin to the lack of a license in a position such as a medical doctor because without a security clearance Makky's subjective qualifications are irrelevant. [5] A security clearance is the minimum requirement needed to hold Makky's position. Thus, as of January 2005, when Makky's clearance was suspended, he was not qualified on the most basic level to perform his job. As we noted earlier, Makky acknowledges that we cannot review the decision to deny his security clearance. Rather, Makky claims that he was discriminated against in September 2005 when he was suspended without pay. We need not decide whether a plaintiff would be entitled to prevail on a claim of employment discrimination for the period following the adverse employment action of suspension without pay until there is a final decision on that employee's entitlement to security clearance because Makky was not qualified to do his job as of January 2005, when he lost access to National Security Information. Makky also argues that the decision to suspend him without pay in September 2005 was discriminatory because TSA could have transferred him to a different position not requiring access to National Security Information. We do not accept his contention that TSA could have transferred him rather than suspending him without pay. TSA had no legal obligation to do so. Therefore, we will affirm the District Court's decision dismissing Makky's claim for employment discrimination, albeit for slightly different reasons.