Trump Revokes Security Clearances for Biden, Harris, Clinton, and Others

On Friday evening, President Donald Trump issued a memo revoking the security clearances of several prominent political figures, including former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and various other individuals linked to the current administration.

The decision follows through on a statement Trump made in February, when he announced his intention to rescind his predecessor’s access to classified intelligence briefings. This move was framed as retaliation after Biden had revoked Trump’s access following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The names listed in Trump’s memo include some familiar figures, many of whom have clashed with the president in various capacities. Among them are New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, both of whom have investigated Trump’s business dealings. The memo also lists several individuals connected to Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, when he was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden. These include Fiona Hill, a former foreign policy expert; Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified during the impeachment hearings; and Norman Eisen, a former White House ethics counsel.

The memo also highlights the inclusion of two Republican figures who served on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, former rep. Liz Cheney and former rep. Adam Kinzinger. The directive included in the memo reads: “I also direct all executive department and agency heads to revoke unescorted access to secure United States government facilities from these individuals.” This revocation covers not only access to classified briefings such as the President’s Daily Brief, but also any classified materials that might be available due to the individuals’ former roles in Congress.

Trump has used similar memos since returning to office, targeting individuals who have been at odds with him or have pursued actions he perceives as threatening. Earlier this week, he revoked the security clearances of Biden’s adult children, Ashley and Hunter. He has also stripped the security clearances of former high-ranking officials from the Biden administration, including Antony Blinken, the former Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, the former National Security Adviser, who were both named again in Friday’s memo.

Security clearances are being revoked for reasons other than only Biden’s supporters. Trump has also removed the security information of former administration officials and associates since he took office, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Throughout his presidency, Trump has consistently used these memos, exposing a pattern of punitive acts against anyone who have criticized or opposed him.