Federal Judge Freezes Move to Strip Whistleblower Attorney’s Clearance
A Washington, D.C. federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cancel the security clearance of Mark Zaid, a high-profile attorney known for representing government whistleblowers. The decision, delivered Tuesday, came as part of a lawsuit arguing the clearance revocation was punitive and violated basic legal protections.
Judge Cites Retaliation and Lack of Due Process
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the White House from enforcing a March directive targeting Zaid and several other individuals by stripping their access to classified information. The judge agreed with Zaid’s claim that the move was driven by “improper political retribution” rather than a legitimate national security basis, noting that proper individualized evaluations were not conducted before the clearance was revoked.
Ali also found that Zaid provided credible evidence showing that the loss of clearance has hindered his ability to advise clients in cases involving sensitive material — a central argument in his lawsuit.
Order on Hold as Government Reviews Appeal Options
While the injunction calls for the immediate restoration of Zaid’s security clearance, the judge paused implementation of the order until January 13 to give the Justice Department time to consider an appeal. If the administration does not appeal, the clearance reinstatement would take effect on that date.
The Justice Department had previously tried to dismiss Zaid’s legal challenge, but Judge Ali rejected that motion — clearing the way for his lawsuit to progress.
Lawyer Calls Decision a Win for Legal Advocacy
In response to the ruling, Zaid characterized the decision as a defense of legal rights and an important statement against governmental intimidation. He emphasized that lawyers must be able to represent clients, even those critical of an administration, without fear of punitive actions.
