This presidency is one for the history books. And not everyone is happy about that.
Because the Trump administration revoked the security clearance of activist ex-Biden official.
Gabbard Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Officials, Citing Intelligence Abuses
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the revocation of security clearances for 37 current and former officials, including Maher Bitar, former National Security Council (NSC) senior director for intelligence programs under President Joe Biden, on August 21, 2025.
Gabbard cited “abuses of power” related to the Russia collusion investigation and other intelligence violations, including unauthorized leaks and tradecraft breaches, as the basis for the action, per a statement on X.
Bitar, now national security adviser to Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), previously served as a congressional aide during President Donald Trump’s 2020 impeachment proceedings.
The decision, directed by Trump, has sparked debate over accountability in the intelligence community, with supporters praising the move as a correction of past overreaches and critics arguing it risks politicizing national security.
Details of the Revocations
Bitar, who held top-secret clearance during his NSC tenure from January 2021 to January 2025, had access to sensitive intelligence, including covert operations and clandestine agent identities.
Gabbard stated that the revoked officials “politicized and manipulated intelligence” and “broke the sacred trust” of their oaths, emphasizing that security clearances are a privilege contingent on upholding public trust.
Other affected officials include former Principal Deputy DNI Stephanie O’Sullivan, former NSC spokeswoman Emily Horne, and Vinh X. Nguyen, a senior National Security Agency official, all linked to the Obama administration’s intelligence operations.
Critics, including Gabbard, argue these officials contributed to a discredited 2017 intelligence assessment alleging Russian interference in the 2016 election, based partly on a private dossier later found to contain unverified claims.
Context and Reactions
The revocations follow new intelligence disclosures under Trump’s second term, which allege efforts by some officials to falsely discredit him, including unmasking requests by former UN Ambassador Samantha Power and leaks attributed to Schiff’s House Intelligence Committee, per congressional documents.
A Schiff spokesman defended Bitar, calling him a “trusted and deeply experienced national security professional” with nearly 15 years of service, while the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment, referring to Gabbard’s X post.
Bitar’s past affiliations with Students for Justice in Palestine and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), criticized by Israel for ties to Hamas, have fueled controversy, with former Ambassador David Friedman and activist Laura Loomer questioning his suitability for sensitive roles.
