Warner bill would prohibit President Trump from revoking security clearances for political reasons

Today, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, filed an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to prohibit President Trump from abusing the security clearance process to punish his critics.

“President Trump’s actions over the last week are beyond outrageous. His tactics are reminiscent of another president who abused his office to settle scores and punish critics. By revoking or threatening to revoke the security clearances of former intelligence officials who have criticized his conduct in office, President Trump is setting an extremely dangerous precedent. He’s using the powers of his office in an attempt to intimidate and silence his opponents, and he is politicizing a process that is, by design, supposed to be non-partisan and apolitical,” said Sen. Warner today.

Sen. Warner offered an amendment to the defense appropriations bill currently under debate on the Senate floor prohibiting the use of federal funds to revoke an individual’s security clearance, except in accordance with Part 147 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, and Executive Orders 12968 and 13467 as in effect on August 15, 2018 – the day President Trump revoked John Brennan’s security clearance. Text of the amendment is available here.