Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, have introduced legislation that would bar any administration from revoking a security clearance for political purposes, The Hill reported.
The bill, the Integrity in Security Clearance Determinations Act, comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's revoking security clearances for his foes, including former President Joe Biden. Biden also revoked Trump's security clearance when he took office.
"Americans should be able to have confidence that the security clearance process is focused solely on protecting our nation's most sensitive information," said Warner, ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a statement. "This bipartisan legislation will make clear that this vital system cannot be weaponized for political retribution."
Collins said Americans should have confidence in the security clearance system.
"The security clearance system is critical to protecting our country from harm and safeguarding access to our most classified information," Collins said in a statement. "This bipartisan bill would make the current system fairer and more transparent by ensuring that decisions to grant, deny, or revoke clearances are based solely on codified guidelines.”
Collins and Warner first introduced the bill in 2019. They said their bill will ensure that the security clearance process is fair, objective, transparent, and accountable by requiring decisions to grant, deny, or revoke clearances be based on published criteria.
The bill also bans federal agencies from using security clearances to punish whistleblowers or discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, religion, age, handicap, or national origin.
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