Trump Advisers Propose Replacing FBI Vetting with Private Checks for Security Clearances

A memo suggests bypassing traditional FBI background checks to expedite appointments, raising national security concerns.

A memo circulated among Donald Trump's advisers proposes using private-sector investigators instead of the FBI for security clearance checks if he wins reelection.
The proposal aims to quickly install Trump loyalists by avoiding the lengthy and intrusive FBI vetting process that delayed some of his first-term appointees.
Critics, including national security experts and former officials, argue that privatizing security clearances could compromise national security by allowing unqualified individuals access to sensitive information.
Trump's legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, who has faced legal issues himself, is reportedly a key proponent of the plan, but it is unclear if Trump has endorsed it.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung did not address the proposal directly, instead accusing Democrats of weaponizing the Justice Department against Trump.