Re: What's the problem?
It's not about the amount of debt but whether you are in arrears on that debt. Debt, in an of itself doesn't make you a risk, failure to pay that debt does. When people are about to lose their house, car, etc and the creditors are banging down the door, that's when the risk increases? Why the NSA seems not to be doing regular credit checks is the big question.
(The NSA pulling credit reports on employees/contractors should have no impact on the subjects credit as the NSA is not potentially issuing loans.)