US President Donald Trump has officially revoked the security clearances of his predecessor, Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and several senior former White House and national security officials.
The directive, issued on Friday through a White House memorandum, also includes former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan.
“I hereby direct every executive department and agency head… to revoke any active security clearances held by the aforementioned individuals,” Trump stated in the memorandum. The order further restricts them from unescorted access to secure government facilities.
Traditionally, former presidents and high-ranking security officials retain their security clearances as a courtesy, with some using them for advisory roles or private-sector employment. However, Trump’s decision signals a sharp break from precedent.
The move follows Trump’s longstanding claims that Biden and his administration orchestrated election fraud in 2020, despite multiple investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.
Among those affected by the revocation is Liz Cheney, a former Republican lawmaker and outspoken Trump critic, along with Fiona Hill, a former Trump administration advisor, and Alexander Vindman, a retired U.S. Army officer who had raised concerns about Trump’s dealings with Russia.
Trump himself had previously faced scrutiny for mishandling classified documents during his time at Mar-a-Lago but avoided legal consequences after returning to office.
