Security status policy needs revision

There has been a great deal in the news lately about President Donald Trump's canceling of former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance status. It has been the tradition to continue to permit those leaving government in good standing to retain their security status even though it is not required by the Constitution or law. The president has the power to review and determine the federal government security clearances for all citizens.

It appears to me that this traditional retention of security clearances has been a bad precedent. Once leaving the government service, one has no need for such a security clearance for they should not be privy to any classified material. If they again return to government service or related capacity and require security clearance in "need to know" situations, their status could be reinstated.

This matter has been unnecessarily politicized by the outdated traditional treatment of security clearance retention. All rules and traditions should not be "embedded in stone" but be reviewed from time to time as to their current applicability. This is one of those traditions that needs changing.

George Reuss

Wheaton