The court ruled that the presidential memo to Washington lawyer Mark Zaid was political retaliation and could not be used against him.
A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from revoking the security clearance of prominent Washington attorney Mark Zeid, another legal setback to President Donald Trump’s efforts to target perceived political opponents.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued a preliminary injunction, preventing enforcement of a March presidential memo ordering the revocation of Zeid’s powers. The order also named 14 other people, but could not apply to Zaid as written, according to the ruling.
The decision came the same day the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area, marking the administration’s second loss in a day. Together, the rulings underscore how Trump’s policies and staff actions have repeatedly been slowed or halted by judges since he returned to office.
How? reports by The Washington Post, Zeid filed a lawsuit in May, arguing that the cancellation was motivated by politics rather than legitimate safety concerns. In court filings, he described the Trump administration’s move as “improper political payback” that threatens his ability to represent clients involved in sensitive national security matters.
Judge Ali agreed, writing that the government cannot use expedited clearance cancellations to punish attorneys for their legitimate work. “This court joins several other courts in this circuit that have ordered the government to use the summary revocation of security clearances to punish attorneys who represent people against them,” Ali said in his order.
The March memo said it was “no longer in the national interest” for Zeid and others to maintain security clearances. The list included several high-profile figures criticized by Trump, including former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former President Joe Biden and members of the Biden family.
The action is part of a broader pattern since Trump returned to the White House that has included directing investigations into critics and issuing executive orders targeting law firms and attorneys involved in cases against him. In August, the administration announced it was revoking the clearances of 37 current and former national security officials.
Zeid has practiced national security law for nearly 35 years and has represented clients from across the political spectrum, including military officials, law enforcement officials and whistleblowers. In 2019, he represented the intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint about Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Ali emphasized that the decision does not permanently prohibit the government from reviewing Zaid’s permit. The administration can still pursue rescission through standard procedures unrelated to the president’s memo. The ban will take effect on January 13.
In a statement following the ruling, Zeid said the ruling sends a broader message. “This is not just a victory for me,” he said. “It’s an indictment of the Trump administration’s attempts to intimidate and silence the legal community, especially the lawyers who represent people who dare to question or hold this government accountable.”
