In a dramatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of several prominent political figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and key members of the Biden administration.
The sweeping action also affects other prominent Democrats and former government officials who previously held high-ranking positions.
This decision follows Trump’s earlier announcement in February, when he rescinded the security clearance of former President Joe Biden. In a memo issued on Friday, Trump stated that he was also revoking the clearances of the entire Biden family.
The memo, which was issued to the relevant government agencies, made it clear that these individuals would no longer have access to classified information, including briefings like the President’s Daily Brief and any other intelligence materials held by the Intelligence Community.
The memo reads, “I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.”
The list of affected individuals includes figures such as Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State; former Republican lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger; Fiona Hill, a former adviser on Russian affairs; as well as national security figures like Jake Sullivan and Lisa Monaco.
Additionally, high-profile individuals like Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissmann, who were involved in legal and political investigations, are also impacted.
Trump’s move is part of a broader pattern in which he has previously revoked security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials whom he accused of interfering in the 2020 election in Biden’s favor.
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Though no concrete evidence has been presented for these accusations, Trump’s decision continues to stir debate over the politicization of intelligence access.
This move comes after Biden, in 2021, revoked Trump’s access to intelligence briefings due to concerns over his “erratic behavior” following his defeat in the 2020 election.
The ongoing back-and-forth over security clearances highlights the deep divisions within U.S. politics and the high stakes involved in the fight for access to classified information.
