Judge blocks Trump from using clearance memo against whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington, D.C., granted Mark Zaid a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from using a March presidential memorandum — which named him among 15 people deemed "no longer in the national interest" — to summarily strip his security clearance, with the order taking effect Jan. 13. The injunction is limited to Zaid and allows the government to pursue revocation or suspension through normal agency processes for independent reasons; the ruling comes amid a broader Trump campaign targeting officials (including prior revocation of 37 clearances) and was one of two major legal setbacks for the administration that day.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington, D.C., granted Mark Zaid a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from using a March presidential memorandum to revoke his security clearance.
- The March presidential memorandum named 15 people — including Mark Zaid, former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former President Joe Biden and members of his family — as “no longer in the national interest” to hold clearances.
- Judge Ali said his order joins “several others in this district” that have enjoined summary clearance revocations used to penalize lawyers for representing clients adverse to the government.
- The injunction is limited to Zaid, will take effect Jan. 13, and explicitly allows the government to pursue revocation or suspension of his clearance through normal agency processes on independent grounds.
- Reporters placed the ruling in a broader political context, describing it as part of a Trump campaign of retribution that has included directing DOJ investigations, targeting law firms, and the August revocations of clearances for 37 current and former national security officials.
- The decision was described as the administration’s second major legal setback that day, paired with the Supreme Court’s refusal to allow a National Guard deployment to Chicago.
- Background: Zaid represented the 2019 intelligence‑community whistleblower whose complaint about President Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy contributed to Trump’s first impeachment.
đź“Š Relevant Data
In 2018, President Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan as a form of political retribution for his public criticism of the administration.
Statement on the Revocation of the Security Clearance of Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John O. Brennan — The American Presidency Project
As of November 2025, the Trump administration has revoked at least 112 security clearances from current and former U.S. officials, law firms, and state leaders, primarily targeting those perceived as political adversaries.
Trump's campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting — Reuters
The Department of Energy's inspector general opened nine times as many whistleblower-retaliation cases in the first year of Trump's second term compared to previous years.
Inspectors General Are Seeing More Whistleblower Retaliation Cases Under Trump — Notus
A large majority of whistleblowers (80.8%) reported very negative effects on work, and 81.5% on income, following retaliation for blowing the whistle.
Mental Health Problems Among Whistleblowers: A Comparative Study — PMC (Psychological Reports)
From fiscal years 2019 to 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs settled 71 whistleblower retaliation cases, with most settlements including payments and personnel actions.
Whistleblowers: VA Should Assess Data and Monitor Settlement Agreements — GAO
đź“° Sources (3)
- Confirms the ruling came from U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington, D.C., granting Mark Zaid’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
- Specifies that the March presidential memorandum listed Zaid and 14 others, including Lisa Monaco, Letitia James, Joe Biden and members of his family, as 'no longer in the national interest' to hold clearances.
- Quotes Ali joining 'several others in this district' in blocking the government from using summary clearance revocations to penalize lawyers for representing clients adverse to the administration.
- Clarifies that the injunction is limited to Zaid and explicitly states the government may still pursue revocation or suspension for independent reasons via normal agency processes.
- Notes the injunction will take effect Jan. 13 and situates it within a broader Trump campaign of retribution, including prior revocations of 37 officials’ clearances and directed DOJ investigations.
- Provides additional political context that this is the administration’s second legal setback that Tuesday, paired with the Supreme Court’s refusal to allow Trump’s National Guard deployment to Chicago.
- Confirms that the March presidential memorandum named 15 specific individuals, including Mark Zaid, former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former President Joe Biden and members of his family, as 'no longer in the national interest' to hold clearances.
- Adds Ali’s framing that the order joins 'several others in this district' that have enjoined summary security‑clearance revocations used to penalize lawyers for representing clients adverse to the government.
- Clarifies that the preliminary injunction is limited to Zaid and explicitly allows the government to pursue revocation or suspension through normal agency processes on grounds independent of the memo.
- Provides political context that security‑clearance revocations are one of multiple tools used by Trump in a broader retribution campaign that includes directing specific DOJ investigations and targeting law firms over disfavored legal work.
- Notes that in August the administration announced revocation of security clearances for 37 current and former national security officials as part of this campaign.
- Situates the ruling as the administration’s second major legal setback that day, alongside the Supreme Court’s refusal to allow National Guard deployment in Chicago, underscoring judicial resistance to elements of Trump’s agenda.
- Includes a detailed biographical note that Zaid represented the 2019 intelligence‑community whistleblower whose complaint about Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy contributed to Trump’s first impeachment.