President Donald Trump has taken decisive action to alter the intelligence framework, employing security clearances as a means to politically undermine his opponents. On March 10, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the cancellation of clearances for prominent figures within the Biden administration, executing orders issued by Trump upon his return to the presidency. As reported by Politico, the individuals affected by this decision include former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who had been responsible for overseeing prosecutions related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Gabbard confirmed this action in a post on X, asserting that it aligned with Trump’s instructions. Additionally, Trump targeted legal officials involved in investigations against him, such as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom have scrutinized his business practices.
Politico also indicated that former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann and ex-Ambassador Norm Eisen, known for their critical stance towards Trump, had their clearances revoked as well. In a notable departure from established norms, Gabbard announced that former President Joe Biden would no longer receive the President’s Daily Brief, which provides essential intelligence summaries. Politico highlighted that while it has been customary for former presidents to retain access to these briefings, Biden had previously rescinded Trump’s access in 2021. Furthermore, Gabbard executed Trump’s order to revoke clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who had signed a 2020 letter dismissing claims regarding Hunter Biden’s laptop as “Russian disinformation.”
