Trump Administration Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Current and Former Officials

The Trump administration said Tuesday it was revoking the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials, marking the latest act of retribution targeting public servants from the federal government’s intelligence community.

A memo issued by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the individuals of engaging in the “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” to advance personal or partisan goals, failing to safeguard classified information, failing to “adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards,” and other unspecified “detrimental” conduct. The memo provided no evidence to support the accusations.

Many of the officials targeted left the government years ago, having served in both senior national security positions and lower-profile roles. Some were involved in matters that have long angered Trump, including the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit him. Several had also signed a critical letter in 2019, which resurfaced last month on social media when promoted by right-wing activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer.

The action is part of a broader Trump administration campaign to use government authority against perceived adversaries and reflects the president’s ongoing distrust of career intelligence officials, whom he has long viewed as working against his interests. Critics argue that revoking clearances could chill dissenting voices within the intelligence community, which traditionally draws on diverse perspectives before forming assessments.

“These are unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies that sought to protect against just this type of action,” said Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer whose own clearance was revoked. He called it hypocritical for the administration to accuse others of politicizing or weaponizing intelligence.

Defending the move, Gabbard said the decision had been directed by Trump. “Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” she wrote on X. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”

The clearance revocations come amid wider efforts by Trump administration officials to revisit the intelligence community’s 2017 assessment on Russian election interference, including by declassifying older documents intended to cast doubt on the findings. Multiple government investigations concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election in sweeping fashion through hacking Democratic emails and conducting a social media campaign designed to sow discord and sway public opinion.

Trump has long resisted the conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in his favor. His Justice Department has authorized a grand jury investigation that could bring new scrutiny to Obama-era officials.

Security clearances are critical for both current and former government employees, particularly those in private-sector jobs that require access to sensitive information. Stripping clearances may hinder their ability to work, though it remains unclear how many of those affected still possess or rely on them.

On his first day in office, Trump announced he would revoke the clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter stating the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of a “Russian information operation.” He has also revoked the clearances of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, and he attempted to revoke those of lawyers at several prominent law firms but was blocked by federal judges.

Some individuals named in the latest action served on Biden’s national security team. Many only learned of the revocations through media reports on Tuesday, according to two former officials on the list, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they consider possible legal action.