Trump administration revokes security clearances of 37 current and former government officials

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Associated Press or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence and national security officials, accusing them of “politicizing” intelligence, mishandling classified information, and violating analytic standards
• The move — spearheaded by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — is part of a broader effort to root out perceived adversaries within the intelligence community and revisits long-standing grievances over the Russia investigation

🔭 The context: Many of those affected had previously criticized Trump or were involved in assessments related to Russian election interference. Some were signatories of a 2020 letter cautioning that the Hunter • Biden laptop story resembled a Russian information operation
• The policy echoes Trump’s earlier pledge to revoke clearances from officials he views as politically motivated, including former President Biden and former Vice President Harris
• Critics argue the move violates longstanding norms and legal protections designed to ensure intelligence objectivity

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Impartial and robust intelligence analysis is essential for responding to global crises — from climate risks and energy transitions to national security threats
• Politicizing the clearance process undermines the integrity of federal institutions and risks silencing critical voices in areas such as environmental security, cyber defense, and international cooperation
• It also raises concerns about retaliatory governance practices that could extend into sustainability-related oversight

⏭️ What's next: Several of the targeted individuals may pursue legal action, claiming violations of constitutional protections and due process
• Intelligence community veterans warn that the move could further chill internal dissent and weaken U.S. capacity for nonpartisan risk analysis
• Gabbard has signaled more declassifications and further scrutiny of the 2017 Russia assessment, which could reshape how intelligence is communicated and trusted by both policymakers and the public

💬 One quote: “These are unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies,” — Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer whose own clearance was revoked.

📈 One stat: The number of individuals whose clearances have been revoked by the Trump administration now exceeds 50, including officials across five administrations and m• ultiple agencies

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on public governance