Multiple White House staffers fired or reassigned over security clearances: report

Multiple White House staffers have either been fired or reassigned over issues with their security clearances, ABC News reported Wednesday.

At least one staffer in the Office of the First Lady was let go, according to ABC, as a result of chief of staff John Kelly’s crackdown on interim clearances.

Several other staffers are also under consideration for reassignment or termination, the network reported.

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Kelly has been conducting a review after questions were raised about temporary clearances following abuse allegations against former White House aide Rob Porter.

Porter had been working with a temporary clearance after a background check revealed credible allegations of domestic abuse. He left the White House after more details of the allegations by his ex-wives were revealed, despite some officials — including Kelly — initially defending him.

Critics of the White House called for a review of the clearance process after Porter’s exit.

Kelly released a memo last month detailing changes to how security clearances would be handled.

Senior adviser Jared Kushner’s security clearance was downgraded last week from top secret to secret. The White House says that Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, will remain in his role, even as he’s unable to view top-secret intelligence after having access to it for months.

Kushner is charged with carrying out several duties related to foreign affairs, including peace relations in the Middle East. He is traveling to Mexico Wednesday to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto.

More than 30 White House staffers were reportedly also stripped of their security clearances last month. They are now working with interim clearances while their background checks are being processed.