In a striking and politically charged decision, former President Donald Trump has ordered the revocation of security clearances for a long list of prominent figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Liz Cheney, and former President Joe Biden. The move, announced via an official White House memorandum posted Friday, marks a rare step in U.S. national security protocol.
Trump claimed the decision was driven by what he described as a need to “protect national interests,” stating that the individuals named should no longer have access to classified material. The list includes current and former government officials such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and others with past or present ties to the intelligence community or Biden administration.
“I’ve determined that it is no longer in the national interest for these individuals to retain access to sensitive information,” the statement read. It instructed all federal departments and agencies to immediately revoke their clearances and restrict their access to secure facilities, including barring them from receiving classified briefings like the President’s Daily Brief.
The memo also included a provision for notifying any private employers if the named individuals held clearances through non-government work, effectively cutting off all avenues to classified information.
This decision follows an earlier announcement made in February on Trump’s Truth Social account, where he stated he would end Biden’s access to intelligence briefings, citing concerns about the president’s cognitive fitness. Trump referenced the findings of Special Counsel Robert Hur, whose report raised questions about Biden’s memory and judgment in handling classified documents. Though Hur did not recommend charges, he described Biden’s behavior as influenced by “pride and money.”
Trump didn’t shy away from injecting personal rhetoric into the matter, writing: “There is no reason Joe Biden should still be receiving classified briefings. His memory is failing, and it’s a risk to national security. He’s done. Joe, you’re fired.”
He also pointed out that Biden had taken similar action against him in 2021, effectively revoking Trump’s post-presidency access to intelligence briefings—a move Trump now claims set the precedent.
While such sweeping revocations are unusual, they reflect the deepening divide between the current and former administrations and signal a continued use of security policy as a political tool.
