Which secret classification level includes sensitive compartmented information?

The classification level that includes sensitive compartmented information is Top Secret. This classification is the highest level of security in the classification hierarchy. Sensitive compartmented information (SCI) refers to information that is derived from intelligence sources that require additional safeguarding and handling beyond regular classified material.

To manage these specialized and sensitive materials, the government employs compartmentalization, meaning that access to SCI is restricted to individuals with the appropriate clearance and a need to know. Individuals with Top Secret clearance can access this sensitive information, as it often pertains to national security and could cause exceptionally grave damage to national interests if disclosed without authorization.

In contrast, the other classification levels—Confidential, Secret, and Restricted—do not encompass sensitive compartmented information. Confidential is the lowest level of classification, Secret indicates higher sensitivity but does not include SCI, and Restricted is generally not a standard classification level for security purposes used in the same context. This makes Top Secret the correct designation for materials that include sensitive compartmented information.