Former U.S. President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to revoke the security clearances of his successor, Joe Biden, and several former senior White House and national security officials. This move has sparked widespread attention and could impact the future careers of those involved.
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03-24, 2025According to reports released on Friday local time, the list of individuals stripped of their authorization to access national secrets includes Biden and his family members, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris. Furthermore, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, along with Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan, are also on the list.
In a memorandum sent to the heads of various agencies, Trump instructed that the aforementioned individuals should no longer be permitted access to classified materials. The memorandum explicitly stated: "I hereby direct the head of each executive department and agency...to revoke any existing security clearances held by the individuals listed above." He further added, "I also direct the head of each executive department and agency to revoke access to secure U.S. Government facilities for these individuals without escort."
It is customary for former U.S. presidents and national security officials to retain their security clearances, which is seen as a courtesy and can be helpful for them in seeking collaborations with private contractors. However, Trump has consistently insisted that Biden orchestrated the theft of the 2020 election (despite Trump losing that election), and he remains angered by and frequently attacks his successor.
Notably, Trump himself was previously investigated for allegedly violating security regulations by storing classified White House documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort between his first and second presidential terms. Although the investigation concluded after Trump's return to politics, the incident raised concerns about the management of security clearances.
The list compiled by Trump includes many senior political appointees from previous Democratic administrations, but also includes Liz Cheney, a former Republican politician and critic of Trump. Additionally, Fiona Hill, an intelligence analyst who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, and her former colleague Alexander Vindman, were also affected. Vindman had raised concerns about White House contacts with Russia, leading to conflicts with Trump.
