In a dramatic escalation of his campaign against perceived political adversaries, former US President Donald Trump has directed the suspension of security clearances for lawyers at a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm aiding former special counsel Jack Smith.
The move, announced on Tuesday, targets Covington & Burling, LLP, which provided pro bono legal services to Smith during his investigation into Trump.
According to a memorandum issued by Trump, Attorney Generals and heads of executive departments and agencies were instructed to revoke security clearances for members, partners, and employees of the firm.
The memo also mandates the termination of any federal government contracts held by Covington & Burling. The directive grants the Director of the Office of Personnel Management the authority to ensure compliance with the order.
Jack Smith, who led two high-profile prosecutions against Trump, released a report in January 2025 detailing his rationale for pursuing charges related to election interference.
The report was published just before Smith’s resignation, in what appeared to be an effort to take sole responsibility for the investigations. However, the Trump administration has continued to target individuals involved in the prosecutions, including the firing of several Department of Justice employees earlier this year.
The memorandum spoke about aligning agency funding decisions with the priorities of the Trump administration, particularly Executive Order 14147, issued on January 20, 2025, titled Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government. This latest action is part of a broader effort by Trump to dismantle what he describes as the politicization of federal agencies.
Covington & Burling, a well-respected law firm with deep ties to the federal government, is now under investigation for its role in supporting Smith. The firm has not yet publicly commented on the directive.
Critics argue that the move is an unprecedented use of executive power to target political opponents, while supporters view it as a necessary step to curb alleged abuses within the federal government.
The order marks another contentious chapter in Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the landscape of federal law enforcement and accountability.
