MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
The Federal Government bears a constitutional duty and a moral obligation to uphold and advocate for the free speech rights of its citizens. However, recent years have witnessed a troubling trend where elite figures within the Government have engaged in unlawful censorship, leveraging their undue influence to silence political adversaries and promote their own often flawed narratives regarding crucial public issues. Such actions are not merely unethical; they represent a dangerous precedent for democracy, manifesting as coercive threats directed at the private sector—particularly major social media platforms—to stifle conservative and dissenting voices, thereby skewing public perception. Much of this censorship unfolded during a Presidential election, seemingly designed to undermine the free flow of ideas and healthy debate.
At the center of this controversy is Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Krebs stands accused of being a significant bad-faith actor who misused his governmental authority. His actions reportedly included censoring any speech that contradicted the official narratives surrounding the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his stewardship, CISA allegedly suppressed conservative viewpoints under the pretense of combating “disinformation,” while simultaneously coaxing major social media platforms into compliance with its partisan agenda. Krebs’ leadership reportedly involved efforts to obscure the discussions surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop and the risks associated with certain voting practices, all while dismissing allegations of election fraud as unfounded, despite evidence suggesting serious vulnerabilities in voting systems. Moreover, Krebs attempted to undermine legitimate discourse regarding COVID-19 by discrediting widely circulated alternative perspectives that diverged from CISA’s sanctioned viewpoint.
Such abusive practices not only violate the First Amendment but also erode public trust in Government, thereby weakening the very fabric of our democracy. Those who perpetrate or endorse such conduct should not be entrusted with access to our Nation’s sensitive information. Therefore, I hereby instruct the heads of executive departments and agencies to take immediate action in accordance with existing law to revoke any active security clearance held by Christopher Krebs.
Furthermore, I direct the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and all relevant agencies to initiate necessary actions, consistent with existing legal frameworks, to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals associated with Krebs, particularly at SentinelOne, pending a thorough review to determine whether such clearances serve the national interest.
Additionally, I instruct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in collaboration with other agency heads, to conduct a comprehensive review of Krebs’ activities while in Government service, specifically during his tenure at CISA. This review should pinpoint any instances where Krebs’ actions may have contravened suitability standards for Federal employees, involved the unauthorized spread of classified information, or violated the principles laid out in Executive Order 14149 of January 20, 2025 (which aims to restore freedom of speech and halt federal censorship). As part of this evaluation, a detailed assessment of all of CISA’s operations over the last six years is warranted, particularly concerning any conduct that may conflict with the goals and policies outlined in Executive Order 14149. Upon completion of these reviews, a joint report will be prepared by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to be submitted to the President, via the Counsel to the President, containing recommendations for appropriate remedial actions to uphold the tenets of Executive Order 14149.
This memorandum neither establishes nor implies any legal rights or benefits, whether substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other individual.
