A prominent national security attorney has successfully fought the White House to regain his access to classified material, after a federal judge ruled the administration's actions amounted to political retaliation.
Court Rules Against White House Retaliation
Attorney Mark Zaid, who represents whistleblowers and clients in sensitive national security cases, reported on Monday that a memorandum revoking his security clearance was "no longer in effect". This development follows a legal battle that began after the Donald Trump administration stripped him of his clearance in March 2025.
Zaid had sued the administration in May, arguing the revocation was "improper political retribution" designed to hinder his work. He maintained it jeopardised his ability to represent clients who required access to classified information and to advocate for others without fear of reprisal.
Judge Finds Clear Link to Whistleblower Work
On 23 December 2025, federal judge Amir H. Ali granted Zaid's request for a preliminary injunction, ordering the administration to "immediately and fully restore" his security clearance. The news Zaid shared confirms this ruling has been fulfilled.
In his order, Judge Ali wrote that "Zaid's representation of whistleblowers and other clients adverse to the government was the sole reason for summarily revoking his security clearance." The judge added the administration had unduly "denied Zaid the process and individualized assessment afforded to others."
A Name on a Controversial List
Zaid's clearance was revoked via a Trump administration memo from March 2025 that listed individuals the president considered enemies. The list included high-profile figures such as former President Joe Biden and his family, former Vice-President Kamala Harris, ex-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The White House stated in the memo it was "no longer in the national interest" for those named to have access to secrets. Zaid, who was fourth on the list, expressed bewilderment at his inclusion in a July interview with the Guardian, questioning why he was ranked ahead of a president and vice-president.
Zaid previously represented the whistleblower central to Trump's first impeachment, which focused on a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His specialisation in such cases made the loss of his clearance a significant professional obstacle.
The attorney announced the restoration of his status in a statement on X on Monday evening. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian regarding the court's decision.
