Deborah Akinyosoye
In a late-night move on Friday, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to revoke the security clearances of over a dozen individuals he views as political adversaries, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The directive, outlined in a memo, stated that it was no longer in the national interest for these individuals to access classified information, CNN reported.
Trump instructed all relevant government agencies to take the necessary steps to revoke any active security clearances they held and to immediately block their access to classified materials.
The action also applied to individuals who had held positions in Congress, including several from previous administrations who had access to sensitive information during their tenures.
“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.
“I hereby direct every executive department and agency head to take all additional action as necessary and consistent with existing law to revoke any active security clearances held by the aforementioned individuals and to immediately rescind their access to classified information,” Trump said in the memo.
The memo followed a broader pattern of Trump withdrawing security clearances from political opponents, a tactic he used earlier this year when he stripped former President Joe Biden of his clearance and halted his daily intelligence briefings.
Additionally, the memo confirmed the cancellation of clearances for key figures involved in the investigation of the January 6, 2021, insurrection, including former Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House committee that investigated Trump’s role in the attack on the Capitol.
According to CNN, earlier this month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that, in line with Trump’s directives, she had revoked security clearances for several individuals named in the memo.
This included top Biden administration officials such as former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, as well as prominent legal figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who have pursued legal actions against Trump.
In a separate memo issued the same evening, Trump expanded his crackdown on the legal community, focusing on attorneys and law firms that have opposed his administration.
He instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the actions of these legal entities, particularly those who filed what he considered frivolous lawsuits or challenged his immigration policies.