There are significant changes happening in Washington regarding who can access America’s most classified intelligence. Indeed, the protection of sensitive national security information has taken a dramatic new turn under the current administration.
These changes reflect a serious approach to safeguarding America’s secrets. They represent a stark departure from past practices of extending courtesies to former officials regardless of their actions or statements.
President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and several other prominent Democrats and critics. The sweeping action affects numerous individuals previously entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive information.
And honestly, it’s about time!
Security Clearances Revoked
Trump’s memorandum stated clearly: “I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.”
Trump mandated that department and agency leaders “revoke unescorted access to secure United States government facilities for these individuals.”
The BBC reported that “this action includes, but is not limited to, receipt of classified briefings, such as the President’s Daily Brief, and access to classified information held by any member of the intelligence community by virtue of the named individuals’ previous tenure in the Congress.”
Boom!
The revocations also confirm Trump’s earlier decision to withdraw clearances from President Joe Biden and extend to “any other member” of the Biden family. Former U.S. presidents and top security officials typically maintain their security clearances as a professional courtesy after leaving office.
While some revocations will have a primarily symbolic impact, they could create significant obstacles for the attorneys and prosecutors named. Is it really appropriate for people actively working against the administration to maintain access to our nation’s secrets?
Who’s on the List and Why
The list of those losing clearances falls into several clear categories. Political rivals like Harris and Clinton top the list. Key Biden administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also lost their access privileges.
Notably, Trump targeted Republican critics who opposed him during his first term. Former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who joined the House investigation into January 6th and voted for Trump’s second impeachment, had their clearances pulled.
Let’s be honest – did anyone really think Cheney and Kinzinger should still have access after what they did?
Legal opponents were not spared either. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully pursued fraud charges resulting in hundreds of millions in fines against Trump, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump’s criminal hush money case, both lost their clearances.
Former Trump officials who testified against him during his first impeachment – Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman – were also targeted in this round of revocations.
Protecting America’s Secrets
This action follows a consistent pattern established early in Trump’s second term. On his inauguration day, Trump revoked clearances from dozens of former intelligence officials who had signed a letter suggesting that Hunter Biden’s laptop emails showed signs of Russian disinformation.
The latest revocations mirror President Biden’s own precedent. In 2021, Biden barred then-former President Trump from intelligence briefings, citing Trump’s “erratic behavior.” Now Trump has applied similar reasoning to Biden and his associates.
What goes around comes around, right?
The security clearance revocations signal a serious approach to controlling access to America’s most sensitive information. While the mainstream media characterizes the moves as politically motivated, I can’t help but wonder – shouldn’t we be more concerned about who has access to our national secrets than about hurt feelings?
These security measures reinforce the principle that access to America’s most sensitive information is a privilege, not a right – even for former high-ranking officials. President Trump’s actions demonstrate that protecting national secrets takes priority over traditional courtesies, especially for those who have shown themselves to be political adversaries or potential security risks.
