In a move drawing both scrutiny and debate, former President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive actions revoking security clearances from two former Department of Homeland Security officials — Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Miles Taylor, a former DHS chief of staff.
The decision, detailed in a recently issued Presidential Memorandum, outlines the removal of Krebs’ security access and initiates further federal investigations into his conduct during his tenure. White House staff secretary Will Scharf stated that the Justice Department and other federal entities were instructed to review “potential malign actions” attributed to Krebs during his time leading CISA.
“This action addresses his existing clearances and begins a review of activities that may have undermined public confidence in federal operations,” Scharf explained.
Krebs rose to national prominence following the 2020 election, after publicly affirming the security of the voting process and rejecting claims of widespread fraud. He was dismissed by Trump shortly afterward, sparking intense public debate about the role of cybersecurity officials in overseeing elections.
The new memorandum also directs all federal agencies to suspend clearances not only for Krebs but also for individuals and organizations affiliated with him, including employees at cybersecurity company SentinelOne, pending a broader review on national interest grounds.
Miles Taylor, who became known after anonymously authoring a 2018 op-ed in The New York Times describing internal opposition within the Trump administration, was also named in the order. Taylor’s security clearance—and those of individuals at the University of Pennsylvania, where he now teaches—are now subject to suspension and review.
Taylor later revealed himself as the op-ed’s author in 2020 and has since served as a political commentator. The memorandum references his public comments about resisting the Trump administration’s policies during its first term.
During the signing, Trump described Taylor’s actions as “deeply dishonest,” saying the decision was part of broader efforts to restore integrity in government operations.
In a related briefing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard expressed concern about the security of electronic voting systems, claiming that U.S. intelligence agencies had evidence of vulnerabilities that could be exploited. While no specific systems or incidents were named, the comments underscore the renewed focus on election integrity in current investigative efforts.
The developments mark a continuation of the Trump administration’s scrutiny of former officials who played key roles in national security and public communication during his presidency. Both Krebs and Taylor have yet to respond publicly to the latest orders.
