On Monday, Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee initiated an investigation into the Trump administration’s move to revoke security clearances for 37 officials, raising concerns about the reasons for making the list public.
The action comes after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard rescinded clearances for several current and former intelligence officials connected to the Biden administration or who have criticized Trump’s policies.
Gabbard claimed, without providing evidence, that those affected were involved in politicizing or leaking intelligence or “committing intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards.”
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the panel, asked for “the specific evidence” behind each of the revocations.
“If evidence exists of misconduct justifying the revocation of these individuals’ clearances, many of whom were senior IC officers at the time of your memo, it suggests a widespread issue in the process for granting security clearances. Such an issue deserves congressional scrutiny and corrective measures,” Himes stated in a letter to Gabbard signed by all Democratic Committee members.
“Alternatively, if these revocations bypassed established procedures and are not based on significant risk, a vast amount of intelligence community expertise has been lost.”
The letter also highlighted that at least one person on the list was serving undercover when the announcement was made, questioning the rationale behind the public disclosure from Gabbard’s office.
Others on the list included those who Himes said have key skillsets or are working on top priorities for the intelligence community.
“At least two of the individuals listed in the memo are currently employed as congressional staff, raising serious separation of powers concerns,” he wrote.
That includes a former National Security Council staffer targeted by Laura Loomer who worked for then-House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during the first Trump impeachment and who has since returned to his office.
The letter asks Gabbard to detail whether protocol was followed, including whether those who lost their clearances were given advance warning, if they had a chance to appeal the decision and if their agencies were consulted.
A source familiar with the Office of Director of National Intelligence said agencies were consulted and disputed that one of the officials whose clearance was revoked was actively undercover.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right. Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold,” Gabbard said in August.
“In doing so, they undermine our national security, the safety and security of the American people and the foundational principles of our democratic republic.”
