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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deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies,” — Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer whose own clearance was revoked.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
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