President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, White House officials announced on Saturday.
The move follows Trump’s decision to terminate his predecessor Joe Biden’s access to daily intelligence briefings.
Trump also rescinded security clearances for Biden’s former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. James and Bragg have led legal cases against Trump, while Monaco played a key role in the Department of Justice’s response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
A Break from Tradition: The Fallout of Security Clearance Revocations
The decision represents a departure from Washington’s long-standing practice of allowing former senior officials to retain security clearances to provide counsel on national security and foreign policy matters.
In 2021, Biden revoked Trump’s security clearance, citing concerns over his handling of classified information.
This move follows last month’s revocation of security clearance and personal security detail for retired General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley, who served under Trump’s first term, had been openly critical of him after retiring in 2023 under Biden’s administration.
Targeting Critics and Intelligence Officials
Security clearance revocations are rare and typically restrict access to classified information.
Trump’s latest actions also include the removal of security clearances for over four dozen former intelligence officials who had signed a letter suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop story had similarities to a Russian disinformation operation.
Among those affected was former CIA Director John Brennan, a well-known critic of Trump.
