Those 51....The minute you leave your government job you should lose it.
Why do all the retired flag officers get on corporate boards? Because they keep their TS clearances and sell their access.
Absolutely ZERO reason for either of the Clinton’s, especially PIAPS, to retain their clearances. If Bill Clinton’s expertise is necessary for some situation, one I cannot imagine there being given what a clown he is/was, then the person requesting his counsel could submit paperwork and request that he be “read in” on the situation and go from there. On a case by case basis.
Same goes for all the SESs that leave office and find themselves with very lucrative paying jobs that don’t require much from them. If someone like Comey, Rosenstein, Mueller, et al still have them, someone needs to ask, why.
Yet another thing that Pres Trump brought up, wanted to do something about and threw everyone into seizures over it.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-remove-security-clearance-intel-chiefs/story?id=56764184
Zero reason for Clapper or Brennan to still have one. Oh wait, they were given jobs that “require” a clearance. Really? Imagine that.
How about, at the bare minimum, they can’t get one for 5 years after leaving office/retiring/resigning and, even then, they go through the same SF86 process like everyone else, with strict oversight to ensure they aren’t getting preferential treatment or expedited service. Nahhhhhhh....we can just keep letting these people screw us over, again and again and again.
You’re last point is key.
Clearances are now used as a gating mechanism to be in the Gang. Used to be just straight up “are you a commie” screens.
The Made Guys keep their clearances now because well...they in da gang.