The GUARD Act prohibits federal employees, members of Congress, the President, Vice President, military members, and federal candidates from receiving classified information while they are formally charged with serious crimes related to national security breaches, obstructing official proceedings, mishandling classified materials, acting as a foreign agent, or compromising national security. The ban begins when an indictment or information is filed against the person and ends when the charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted. Congress can waive this prohibition only through an affirmative majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate. The bill applies to these individuals regardless of whether they encounter classified information through their official duties or as political candidates, with the intent of preventing those facing such charges from accessing sensitive national security materials.