In a sweeping move that’s already sending shockwaves through Washington, former President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of two former high-ranking officials—Chris Krebs, the ex-director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Miles Taylor, a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Alongside these actions, Trump has also directed federal agencies to launch formal investigations into their conduct during his first term in office.
These decisions came as part of a series of executive actions signed in the Oval Office, including a Presidential Memorandum targeting Krebs. According to White House staff secretary Will Scharf, the memo instructs the Department of Justice and other government bodies to examine what are being described as “damaging actions” Krebs may have taken during his tenure.
Scharf claimed that Krebs “abused his position to suppress free speech in the context of elections, especially during the COVID-19 period.” He added that the memo aims to reassess Krebs’ access to any remaining government clearances and calls for a deeper look into his leadership at CISA.
Krebs drew national attention after the 2020 presidential election when he pushed back against claims of widespread voter fraud, declaring it “the most secure election in American history.” His stance sparked strong backlash from Trump and his allies, who had insisted on an investigation into alleged irregularities. Trump later fired Krebs, calling him a “fraud” and “disgrace,” and claimed his dismissal was vital for restoring governmental accountability.
“I may have met him once or twice, but I didn’t know him well,” Trump said. “What I do know is he made statements after the election—an election that was deeply flawed and filled with fraud. We had an outstanding performance in that election.”
A White House fact sheet revealed that the memo calls for all federal agencies to immediately revoke any security clearances Krebs still holds. Additionally, entities and individuals connected to Krebs—including private firms like SentinelOne—are also subject to clearance suspensions pending further review.
Miles Taylor is also under scrutiny. The memo includes directives to investigate his connections to the University of Pennsylvania, where he currently teaches, and to reassess any security credentials held by individuals at the institution. Taylor publicly admitted to being the author of a 2018 anonymous New York Times op-ed that described efforts within the administration to resist Trump’s policies—an act the former president now labels as “treason.”
“I believe he committed treason, to be honest,” Trump said while signing the order aimed at Taylor.
On the broader issue of election security, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revealed during a Thursday Cabinet meeting that U.S. intelligence has obtained evidence suggesting electronic voting systems remain vulnerable to interference. According to Gabbard, there is credible concern that such systems could be exploited to manipulate vote counts.
“Our investigations are thorough, and we have a top-tier team working on these matters,” Gabbard stated. “Election integrity is a priority, and our findings indicate these electronic systems have long been at risk of manipulation.”
As these investigations unfold, they signal a renewed effort by Trump to hold former staffers accountable—especially those who publicly broke with his administration during or after their service. The political and legal ramifications of this move are sure to ignite fierce debate in the weeks ahead.
