Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump issued a late-night memo on Friday directing federal agencies to revoke security clearances for over a dozen individuals he perceives as political adversaries, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the memo, Trump stated that it is no longer in the national interest for these individuals to have access to classified information.
The revocation of security clearances applies to classified briefings and any previous access the individuals may have had to classified information during their time in Congress. This move by Trump follows previous instances of revoking security clearances from political rivals, including former President Joe Biden and members of Congress who investigated his involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
The memo also formalized the revocation of Biden’s security clearance, along with several others previously removed by the Trump administration. Trump extended the revocation to include the access of the former president’s family to classified information, subject to confirmation if they had any clearance.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that she had revoked the security clearances of individuals named in Trump’s memo, including top Biden officials, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The memorandum also targeted lawyers and law firms who have opposed Trump, with the president directing the Attorney General to review their conduct and potentially revoke security clearances and cancel federal contracts.
The actions taken in the memos demonstrate Trump’s ongoing efforts to limit access to classified information for individuals he views as adversaries or obstacles to his administration. The move to revoke security clearances further highlights the contentious relationship between Trump and his political opponents, as well as his stance on legal challenges brought against his administration.