U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of several top officials from the previous administration, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, White House officials confirmed Saturday. The decision follows Trump's move a day earlier to strip his predecessor, Joe Biden, of security clearance, effectively cutting off his access to daily intelligence briefings. Among those affected is former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who played a key role in the Justice Department's response to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Additionally, Trump revoked the clearances of New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom led legal cases against him. The sweeping move marks a stark escalation in political tensions in Washington, where former presidents and top officials have traditionally been allowed continued access to intelligence briefings for national security counsel. Security clearance revocations have been a contentious issue in U.S. politics. In 2021, Biden similarly revoked Trump's access to classified intelligence. More recently, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the security clearance and personal security detail of retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had become an outspoken critic following his 2023 retirement. — Agencies
