Trump Wants Secret Clearance for Kids

Donald Trump wants top secret clearance for his children while he is president, CBS reports. The president-elect has reportedly begun asking how he could secure top-level clearance for his adult children and son-in-law, most of whom are currently helming his transition team. Only official government employees and contractors can receive security clearance. Trump’s daughter Ivanka, and sons Eric and Donald Jr., and son-in-law Jared Kushner are currently part of his transition effort, but none have any official government role, or experience in government. CBS’s Julianne Goldman reports that Trump’s adult children would run his business and work as unpaid national security advisors, to skirt nepotism rules. Their suggested dual roles would invite an unprecedented conflict of interests.

During an interview with Trump and his family on 60 Minutes, Eric Trump said that the children would remain in New York to run their father’s business. “So we’ll—we’ll—we’ll be in New York and we’ll take care of the business,” the younger Trump said. “I think we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it. And we’re going to make him very proud.”

Ivanka Trump also said that she would not be interested in a formal role in the upcoming administration. “I’m going to be a daughter,” she said when asked about a possible role. “But I’ve— I’ve said throughout the campaign that I am very passionate about certain issues. And that I want to fight for them.”

A former Obama administration official told The Daily Beast that Trump could simply be asking for them to be cleared so they can have unescorted access to parts of the West Wing. Even First Ladies have to be cleared to access that part of the White House, but that doesn’t mean they have access to top secret areas like the Situation Room, the official said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the clearance process publicly. The lowest level of clearance is called “Yankee White” which could be what Trump is seeking.

Eric, Ivanka, and Donald Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to requests to comment for this story.