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Former President Donald Trump took decisive action on Wednesday by signing executive orders targeting two former government officials who had previously criticized his administration. The directives specifically focused on Christopher Krebs, his former cybersecurity chief, and Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official.

The executive order concerning Krebs mandated the revocation of any security clearances he currently holds. Similarly, the presidential memorandum targeting Taylor not only called for the removal of his security clearances but also demanded a Justice Department investigation into his actions.

During the signing, Trump expressed strong words about Taylor, stating: “I think it’s a very important case, and I think he’s guilty of treason, if you want to know the truth, but we’ll find out.”

Taylor, who had anonymously authored a critical book about Trump in 2019 before revealing his identity in October 2020, responded to the directive through a text message: “I said this would happen. Dissent isn’t unlawful. It certainly isn’t treasonous. America is headed down a dark path.”

The action against Krebs stems from his public disagreement with Trump’s claims of election fraud following the 2020 presidential race. The directive calls for a comprehensive review of Krebs’ tenure as a government employee, particularly his leadership at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Trump voiced his criticism of Krebs during the signing, saying: “We’re going to find out about this guy too because this guy is a wise guy,” and called him “a disgrace.”

The timing of these orders is particularly significant as it relates to Krebs’ current professional situation. After his dismissal from government service, which Trump announced via Twitter on November 17, 2020, Krebs established the Krebs Stamos Group, a cybersecurity consultancy. This firm was recently acquired by SentinelOne in November 2023, where Krebs now serves as chief intelligence and public policy officer.

The presidential order extends beyond individual targets, also affecting security clearances at SentinelOne pending review. In response, SentinelOne released a statement emphasizing their commitment to maintaining their government partnerships and willingness to cooperate with any clearance reviews. The company noted that less than 10 employees hold such clearances and expressed confidence that the directive would not significantly impact their operations.

“Accordingly, we do not expect this to materially impact our business in any way,” SentinelOne stated.