# U.S.S.G. § 2M3.4: Losing National Defense Information

> Federal · Guidelines · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S2M3.4

## Section

- **Citation:** U.S.S.G. § 2M3.4
- **Heading:** Losing National Defense Information
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Guidelines
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** U.S. Sentencing Guidelines / Losing National Defense Information

## Text

(a) Base Offense Level: (1) 18, if top secret information was lost; or (2) 13, otherwise. §§2M3.6 – 2M3.8 Commentary Statutory Provision: 18 U.S.C. § 793(f). Application Note: 1. See Commentary to §2M3.1. Background: Offenses prosecuted under this statute generally do not involve subversive conduct on behalf of a foreign power, but rather the loss of classified information by the gross negligence of an employee of the federal government or a federal contractor. Historical Note Effective November 1, 1987.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S2M3.4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.