Trump Administration Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Intelligence Officials in Escalating Clash with National Security Community

The Trump administration has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials, intensifying its confrontation with the intelligence community.

A memo signed by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused those targeted of “politicizing or weaponizing intelligence,” failing to safeguard classified information, and neglecting professional standards.

No evidence was provided to substantiate the claims.

Many of those affected had long since left government service, including officials who worked on the 2017 intelligence assessment concluding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump — findings the former president has never accepted.

Some of them also signed a 2019 letter critical of Trump, recently amplified online by right-wing activist Laura Loomer.

Critics argue the move represents another example of Trump wielding government power against perceived enemies.

National security lawyer Mark Zaid, whose own clearance was revoked, called the actions “unlawful and unconstitutional” and “hypocritical,” noting that the administration itself has politicized intelligence.

Gabbard defended the decision, writing on X: “Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right. Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”

The clearances matter not only for current officials but also for many former ones whose private-sector jobs depend on access to classified information. Their loss could disrupt careers.

This is not the first time Trump has used clearance revocations as a political tool.

On his first day in office, he pledged to strip clearances from dozens of former officials who signed a 2020 letter suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of Russian disinformation.

He has also revoked the clearances of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and sought to target lawyers at prominent firms, though judges blocked those efforts.

The latest round also hit members of Biden’s former national security team. Several of those affected said they only learned about the move from media reports and are now considering legal action.