37 Security Clearances Revoked in Trump Administration Crackdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration revoked 37 security clearances from current and former intelligence officials, accusing them of politicizing classified work. DNI Tulsi Gabbard announced the move, though no evidence was provided. Critics call the decision unconstitutional and politically motivated, raising concerns about silencing dissent in the intelligence community.
Trump Security Clearances Quick Looks
- 37 clearances revoked from current and former U.S. officials.
- Memo from DNI Tulsi Gabbard cites alleged “politicization of intelligence.”
- No evidence provided to support the accusations.
- Targets include officials involved in Russia election interference findings.
- Some signatories of 2019 anti-Trump letter were among those affected.
- Critics say move is unconstitutional and aimed at silencing dissent.
- Trump previously revoked clearances of Biden and Harris.
- Effort tied to Trump’s push to challenge 2017 intelligence report on Russia.
- Security clearance revocations could affect private-sector jobs of ex-officials.
- Some former officials are considering lawsuits against the administration.
Deep Look: Trump Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Officials in Intelligence Crackdown
WASHINGTON — In a sweeping and controversial move, the Trump administration announced Tuesday it has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former U.S. national security officials, accusing them of politicizing intelligence, violating professional standards, and failing to safeguard classified information.
The decision, revealed in a memo from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, reflects President Donald Trump’s long-standing distrust of the intelligence community and his willingness to punish those he sees as adversaries.
Allegations of “Politicization of Intelligence”
According to Gabbard’s memo, the affected officials allegedly engaged in “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” and “failed to adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards.” However, the document offered no specific evidence to support the accusations.
Many of those stripped of clearances left government service years ago, having served in both senior posts and low-profile roles. Some worked on politically sensitive issues that have long angered Trump — notably, the 2017 intelligence assessment concluding Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit his campaign.
Others had signed a 2019 letter critical of Trump, a document that resurfaced recently on social media thanks to Trump ally Laura Loomer.
Critics Call Move Unconstitutional
National security lawyer Mark Zaid, who himself lost his clearance under Trump, denounced the decision as unlawful.
“These are unconstitutional decisions that deviate from decades-old policies designed to prevent precisely this kind of retaliation,” Zaid said. He added it was hypocritical for the administration to claim others politicized intelligence while engaging in political purges of its own.
Gabbard Defends the Action
Gabbard, appointed DNI during Trump’s second term, defended the move on social media.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” she wrote. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath and put their own interests ahead of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”
She said Trump personally directed the action.
Part of Larger Campaign
The clearance revocations come as Trump and his allies intensify efforts to discredit the intelligence community’s findings about Russian election interference.
Despite multiple government investigations confirming Moscow’s sweeping campaign — including hacks of Democratic emails and disinformation on social media — Trump has repeatedly resisted the conclusion that Vladimir Putin helped him.
Now, Trump’s Justice Department has opened a grand jury probe into Obama-era officials tied to the Russia report, signaling even more scrutiny ahead.
Broader Pattern of Retaliation
This is not the first time Trump has targeted officials over security clearances. On his first day back in office, he vowed to strip clearances from more than 50 former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter warning that the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of Russian disinformation.
He has since revoked the clearances of former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and attempted to target lawyers at major law firms, though courts blocked those efforts.
Impact on Careers
For current employees, losing clearance means losing the ability to work in sensitive government roles. For former officials, clearance is often essential for private-sector jobs in defense, consulting, and intelligence contracting.
It remains unclear how many of the 37 still retained active clearances — but the move sends a chilling signal to the intelligence community, where dissent and independent analysis are considered vital to national security decision-making.
What Comes Next
Some of those affected only learned of their status through news reports. At least two former officials told reporters they were considering legal action against the administration.
The revocations mark yet another escalation in Trump’s ongoing war with U.S. intelligence agencies, raising questions about whether the campaign will suppress honest assessments in favor of political loyalty.
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