More than 400 former U.S. intelligence and national security officials are raising concerns that President Donald Trump is weakening institutional checks on executive power and using national security tools against perceived opponents, according to the Financial Times. "The guardrails were all taken down," national security lawyer Mark Zaid told the outlet. Former officials pointed to Trump's use of security clearances and declassified intelligence among their concerns. Trump revoked the clearances of 50 former intelligence officials on his first day back in office and later targeted former Biden administration officials and other critics. A 2021 National Intelligence Council assessment had concluded that Beijing did not deploy election interference efforts.