In a dramatic escalation of his crackdown on government agencies, U.S. President Donald Trump revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance on Friday while continuing his aggressive cuts to foreign aid.
Trump announced the decision on his Truth Social platform, stating, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. JOE, YOU’RE FIRED!”—marking a break from the tradition of allowing former presidents to receive intelligence briefings.
Additionally, Trump froze aid to South Africa—where his top donor, Elon Musk, was born—and declared himself the head of the Kennedy Center, one of Washington’s premier cultural institutions.
Trump also intensified his efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), accusing it of corruption and calling for its shutdown without providing evidence. The agency, which employs 10,000 staff globally, has already seen its workforce slashed as Trump moves to centralize power.
Labor unions have challenged the legality of these actions, with a federal judge pausing Trump’s order to place 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave. Democrats argue that Trump’s attempts to unilaterally shut down government agencies violate constitutional law, setting the stage for further legal battles.