Another week, another executive order was issued—this time revoking security clearances for President Biden, Hillary Clinton, and attorneys involved in legal actions against President Trump.
It’s not the first time this administration has used executive orders to revoke security clearances directly. In a separate, earlier order, the president also targeted a law firm—barring it from doing business with the federal government and rescinding its employees’ clearance eligibility. That action was later walked back, highlighting ongoing legal pushback around the scope of presidential power in contract and labor disputes.
When it comes to clearance eligibility, the president’s authority is well established. As commander in chief, the president controls the government’s classification system, and security clearance policies—administered via executive orders—fall under that domain. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) carry out those policies, but the authority starts at the top.
For the average clearance holder, this doesn’t change much. You still have due process protections and appeal rights if your clearance is suspended or revoked. But the trend of using executive orders to shape security clearance policy is one worth watching—especially as administrations shift and priorities change.
