Trump revokes security clearances of political rivals Harris, Clinton, and January 6 critics in expanded crackdown
Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump escalated his campaign against political opponents and legal critics late Friday, issuing a sweeping memo ordering federal agencies to revoke security clearances for more than a dozen high-profile figures.
Among those targeted are former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Republicans who investigated his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
In the memo, Trump asserted that allowing these individuals access to classified information no longer served the “national interest.”
He directed agency heads to “immediately rescind” their clearances and block access to sensitive materials.
The directive also formalized prior actions against former President Joe Biden and expanded to target his family’s potential access—despite no evidence they held such privileges.
“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information,” Trump wrote.
The list included Democrats central to his 2016 and 2024 electoral challenges, alongside former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the GOP lawmakers who spearheaded the House January 6 committee’s investigation.
Broadening the Political Battle
Friday’s order marks Trump’s latest use of security clearances to penalize perceived adversaries.
In February, he abruptly revoked Biden’s clearance and halted his intelligence briefings—a move echoed in this memo.
The document also codified the removal of clearances for top Biden-era officials, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
These actions were initially carried out earlier this month by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard under Trump’s directive.
Notably, the memo extends to lawyers who have legally challenged Trump, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Both have pursued civil and criminal cases against him, and their clearances were previously revoked by Gabbard.
Targeting Legal Opponents
In a separate Friday memo, Trump revisited grievances against attorneys and firms that opposed his policies.
He instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the conduct of lawyers who filed lawsuits deemed “frivolous” by his administration—particularly those challenging his immigration agenda.
The directive threatens to cancel federal contracts held by these firms and revoke their security clearances, intensifying Trump’s clash with the legal community.
“The president will not tolerate meritless litigation designed to harass his administration,” the memo states. It did not specify which cases qualify as frivolous.
Precedent and Reactions
The revocation of security clearances for political purposes is unprecedented in modern presidential conduct.
While former officials often retain clearances to advise successors, Trump has weaponized the process, notably stripping ex-CIA Director John Brennan’s clearance in 2018.
Legal experts argue such actions risk politicizing national security infrastructure.
The White House has not provided evidence that those targeted posed security risks.
A senior administration official, speaking on background, defended the move as “necessary to protect classified systems from partisan actors.”
Affected individuals, including Harris and Clinton, have yet to publicly respond.
Cheney and Kinzinger, vocal Trump critics, condemned the move as “retribution” for their January 6 work.
Context and Implications
The memos underscore Trump’s willingness to leverage executive authority against rivals amid his 2024 campaign.
By blocking access to classified briefings typically available to former leaders, the orders isolate Biden and others from critical intelligence updates—a break from post-9/11 norms aimed at ensuring bipartisan continuity on national security.
Meanwhile, the crackdown on lawyers signals a broader strategy to deter legal challenges to Trump’s agenda.
Bondi’s review could disrupt firms engaged in high-profile litigation against the administration.
Constitutional scholars warn it may face legal hurdles over free speech and due process concerns.
As the 2024 election looms, Trump’s latest actions cement his administration’s confrontational stance toward dissent.
The moves reshape the boundaries of presidential power and partisan retaliation.
