Tulsi Gabbard revokes security clearances of 37 US intelligence officials

The Trump administration has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former U.S. officials, accusing them of politicizing intelligence for partisan or personal gain. The sweeping move marks one of the largest such actions in recent history and is already drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and intelligence veterans.

Tulsi Gabbard Announces the Order

In a memo posted on social media, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard directed several national security agency heads to immediately strip the officials of their clearances. She said the action came directly at the request of President Donald Trump.

“The president has made it clear,” Gabbard wrote. “Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right.”

The officials named in the memo include a range of national security staffers who served under former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. However, the memo did not specify which individuals still had active clearances at the time of the order.

Allegations Without Evidence

Gabbard claimed the officials had “abused the public trust by politicizing and manipulating intelligence, leaking classified intelligence without authorization, and committing intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards.”

However, she offered no evidence to support those accusations, and the memo did not lay out specific charges against specific individuals. Critics argue that the lack of transparency raises serious questions about whether the move is politically motivated.

Why Security Clearances Matter

A security clearance grants access to highly sensitive government information. Even after leaving government, many officials retain their clearances so they can advise successors during transitions or emergencies. Beyond public service, clearances are valuable in the private sector, especially in industries such as defense, technology, and aerospace.

Revoking a clearance can therefore have significant personal and professional consequences, limiting an individual’s ability to work in certain roles. For some of the 37 names listed, it remains uncertain whether they even still possessed an active clearance.

Not the First Time

This is not the first time Trump has taken this approach. In past years, his administration revoked or attempted to revoke the clearances of high-profile political rivals, including Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and several former lawmakers who played roles in investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

The new round of revocations appears to be the broadest yet, signaling a continued effort by Trump and his allies to target members of the intelligence community they accuse of undermining him.

A Fight Rooted in 2016

The backdrop to this conflict stretches back to the 2016 election. Intelligence agencies under the Obama administration concluded that Russia interfered in the election with the goal of helping Trump win. Those findings were later supported by bipartisan investigations in Congress.

Trump, however, has long disputed the conclusion, describing it as part of a “witch hunt” designed to delegitimize his presidency. In recent weeks, Gabbard has echoed Trump’s rhetoric, calling the intelligence community’s assessment a “treasonous conspiracy” and vowing to expose what she calls misconduct within Obama-era agencies.

Democratic Pushback

Democrats have dismissed the latest actions as an attempt to shift attention away from unpopular policies and Trump’s ongoing legal troubles. They argue that targeting former officials for partisan reasons undermines the integrity of the intelligence community.

“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” a spokesperson for former President Obama said last month. Other Democratic lawmakers have warned that revoking clearances without cause could discourage future officials from providing candid intelligence assessments.

What Comes Next

It remains unclear whether the individuals affected will challenge the decision in court. Legal experts note that presidents have broad authority over security clearances, but critics say blanket revocations of dozens of officials at once could face constitutional scrutiny.

For now, the decision signals that Trump, with Gabbard’s backing, is escalating his long-running feud with the U.S. intelligence community. With the 2024 election cycle still fresh in memory, the fight over intelligence, loyalty, and political power shows no signs of cooling down.

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Donald Trump

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Tulsi Gabbard

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