By Joke Kujenya
FORMER UNITED States presidents traditionally retain security clearances as a courtesy, granting them access to classified intelligence. That practice has now been upended.
President Donald Trump has officially revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance, ending his access to intelligence briefings.
The decision mirrors Biden’s 2021 move when he blocked Trump from receiving classified updates, citing concerns over his “erratic behaviour.”
President Trump announced the revocation through a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that Biden no longer required access to sensitive information.
He framed the decision as retribution for the past.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking his security clearances and stopping his daily intelligence briefings,” Trump wrote.
Trump referenced Biden’s own justification from 2021, when the former president barred his predecessor from intelligence briefings following the January 6 Capitol attack.
“He set this precedent in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th president of the United States (me!) from accessing national security details, a courtesy provided to former presidents.”
During Biden’s tenure, he defended his decision to revoke Trump’s intelligence access, stating there was no need for him to be briefed.
“What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?” Biden had remarked.
The revocation is the latest step in Trump’s sweeping effort to restructure security access and federal employment policies.
In addition to Biden, Trump has also stripped security clearances from numerous former federal officials.
These include Anthony Fauci, the former infectious disease expert, and Mike Pompeo, his own former secretary of state.
Trump has accused intelligence officials of undermining his presidency and supporting his political opponents.
Among those also affected are former intelligence leaders who signed a 2020 letter suggesting that reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop bore the “imprimatur of a Russian information operation.”
Trump had previously revoked security clearances for over 50 of them, further deepening his rift with the intelligence community.
His actions extend beyond security clearances. Trump has further vowed to downsize the federal workforce, promising to remove government employees he believes acted against him.
He is also reportedly working with billionaire Elon Musk to streamline operations and eliminate what he calls “wasteful bureaucracy.”
Additionally, Trump has pushed for an overhaul of the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
He has indicated plans to fire officials who played roles in investigating his administration and the January 6 riots.
“I would fire some of them because they were corrupt. I have no doubt about that,” Trump said. “And it would be done quickly and very surgically.”
As part of his restructuring efforts, Trump has introduced a “buyout plan” for Biden-era federal employees, allowing them to take paid leave until September or face dismissal.
He argues that such measures will reduce the size of the government and save taxpayer money.
As at the time of this report however, the former Biden administration has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s latest move.
Meanwhile, political analysts note that this escalation of political retaliation could set a precedent for future administrations, deepening divisions within Washington.
