Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced this week that 37 current and former intelligence officials were stripped of their security clearances.
Acting on President Trump’s direction, Gabbard said these officials had politicized intelligence and leaked classified information tied to the Russia collusion narrative that dogged Trump’s first term.
BREAKING: DNI Tulsi Gabbard just stripped security clearances from 37 individuals tied to the Russia Collusion Hoax. pic.twitter.com/j67bKsYfGk
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 19, 2025
For years, conservatives argued that the so-called “Russia hoax” was never about protecting America – it was about protecting political power.
Now, Trump is making good on his promise to drain the swamp, even inside the intelligence community.
Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right. Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold. In… pic.twitter.com/23DUNuVAi0
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) August 19, 2025
Restoring Trust After Years of Abuse
The numbers alone show how unusual this move is.
According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, only 0.02% of the nation’s 4.2 million clearance holders lose their access in a given year. That works out to around 800 people annually.
But revoking 37 in one sweep – many of them household names like James Clapper – marks a dramatic break from business as usual.
Conservatives see this as long overdue. Why should individuals who pushed a partisan narrative, and in some cases cashed in with cushy media gigs, still have access to America’s secrets?
Las Vegas Isn’t Far from Washington’s Swamp
Nevada may seem far removed from the halls of Langley or Foggy Bottom, but this fight is directly tied to the state’s political and economic reality.
First, Nevada voters have grown increasingly skeptical of the Washington establishment.
In 2024, the state swung Republican for the first time in decades, driven largely by working-class voters tired of elites making decisions that don’t reflect their struggles. Unemployment has been among the nation’s highest, housing costs keep climbing, and families feel the squeeze every time they visit the grocery store.
When Trump talks about standing up to the “deep state,” Nevadans nod in agreement; they know what it feels like to be ignored by powerful insiders.
Second, Nevada has become a hub for cyber and intelligence-related operations.
Just last week, federal authorities arrested an Israeli cybersecurity official in Las Vegas during an internet crimes sting. That headline underscored how much of today’s national security activity touches Nevada soil.
Stripping unreliable or politically motivated officials of clearance can be framed as protecting these local operations from being undermined by partisan gamesmanship back east.
The Swing State Domino Effect of Trump’s Shake-Up
Nevada isn’t alone in feeling the ripple effects. Other battleground states – Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania – are also watching closely.
Like Nevada, these states have seen political realignments where working-class and Latino voters are moving rightward. They’re frustrated with an economy that doesn’t work for them and a government that often seems more focused on internal politics than on protecting citizens.
By taking on the intelligence establishment, Trump and Gabbard are drawing a clear contrast: on one side, entrenched bureaucrats who misled the public; on the other, an administration willing to shake up powerful institutions to restore trust.
In states where elections are often decided by a few thousand votes, that message could tip the scales.
Critics Panic – Supporters See a Fresh Start
Critics argue this move could destabilize U.S. intelligence or leave gaps in expertise. But conservatives push back: what good is expertise if it’s being abused for partisan gain?
True security comes from loyalty to the Constitution and the people – not from protecting insiders who see themselves as untouchable.
For Trump’s supporters in Nevada and across the country, this mass revocation isn’t just about old scandals. It’s about making sure the intelligence community serves America, not itself.
In swing states where distrust of Washington runs deep, it could be another reason voters stick with the party that promises to fight for them.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
