A federal judge in Washington has blocked the Trump administration from revoking the security clearance of Mark Zaid, a prominent attorney known for representing whistleblowers and national security officials. Judge Amir Ali ruled that the presidential memorandum targeting Zaid amounted to improper political retribution and could not be used to penalize a lawyer for representing clients adverse to the government. The decision follows a broader pattern of courts intervening against Trump administration efforts to use security clearances and executive power to retaliate against perceived political and legal adversaries. While the ruling allows the government to pursue clearance revocation through regular procedures, it reinforces judicial limits on using national security tools to intimidate or silence the legal profession.