Chris Krebs kicked off CBP’s Global Entry program

CNN - May 1st, 2025
Open on CNN

Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under President Donald Trump, has had his Global Entry membership revoked. Krebs, who played a crucial role in affirming the security of the 2020 election, suspects this action is part of a series of retaliations by the Trump administration. This development follows the stripping of any security clearances Krebs might have retained and an executive order from Trump instructing the Justice Department to investigate him, despite no evidence of criminal activity.

The revocation of Krebs' Trusted Traveler Program status, which offers expedited entry into the US for low-risk travelers, is seen as another move in a broader pattern of retribution against those who contradicted Trump's unfounded claims about election fraud. Krebs, a Republican appointee, received bipartisan support for his stance on the election's integrity, which has drawn criticism from Trump, who continues to challenge the election's legitimacy. This situation underscores ongoing tensions and the political use of government mechanisms for personal vendettas, raising concerns about governance and the rule of law.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and engaging account of Chris Krebs' allegations of retribution by the Trump administration, focusing on the revocation of his Global Entry membership and security clearance. It presents Krebs' perspective clearly and includes direct quotes from him and Trump, contributing to its clarity and readability. However, the story lacks balance due to the absence of responses from the Trump administration and relevant government agencies, which limits its comprehensiveness and potential impact. The article's accuracy is supported by Krebs' statements and corroborated by multiple sources regarding his security clearance revocation, but it would benefit from further verification of the Global Entry revocation details. Overall, the story effectively raises important public interest issues but could enhance its reliability and engagement by incorporating more diverse perspectives and official responses.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately reports Chris Krebs' claims about his Global Entry membership revocation and links it to potential retribution from the Trump administration. It includes direct statements from Krebs and mentions his security clearance revocation, which is confirmed by multiple sources. However, the article lacks official confirmation from CBP or DHS about the reasons for the Global Entry status change. The claim of bipartisan praise for Krebs is not substantiated within the article, requiring additional verification. Furthermore, while Trump's comments about Krebs are accurately quoted, the story's framing of these remarks as part of a broader pattern of retaliation is more interpretative and less directly evidenced within the text.

6
Balance

The article presents Krebs' perspective and his allegations of retribution, but it lacks a balanced representation by not including responses or comments from the Trump administration or relevant government agencies like DHS or CBP. While it reports on Trump's executive actions and public statements, the narrative leans towards Krebs' viewpoint without offering a comprehensive counter-narrative or alternative explanations for the actions taken against him. This imbalance might lead readers to perceive the story as one-sided, particularly in the absence of official responses or rebuttals from the implicated parties.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through Krebs' claims and the context surrounding them. The language is straightforward, and the tone is neutral, making the information accessible to a broad audience. However, the narrative could benefit from clearer delineation between factual reporting and interpretative elements, particularly when discussing potential motivations for the alleged retribution. This would help readers distinguish between the verified facts and the speculative aspects of the story.

7
Source quality

The article primarily relies on statements made by Chris Krebs and includes references to Trump's public comments. CNN is a credible news organization, but the story would benefit from a broader range of sources, such as official statements from CBP or the White House. The lack of direct quotes or attributions from these entities limits the depth of the reporting. Additionally, while Krebs is a credible source on his own experiences, corroborating his claims with independent verification would enhance the story's reliability.

6
Transparency

The article is somewhat transparent in its reporting, as it clearly attributes statements to Chris Krebs and acknowledges reaching out to the White House and DHS for comments. However, it lacks detailed context about the methodology used to verify the claims or the reasons for the absence of responses from key stakeholders. The story does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases, which could affect the reader's perception of its impartiality. Providing more background on the investigative process and the efforts to obtain official comments would improve transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.sepe.gr/en/politics/22569813/chris-krebs-says-he-was-kicked-off-cbp-s-global-entry/
  2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/addressing-risks-from-chris-krebs-and-government-censorship/
  3. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/04/trump-revenge-tour-targets-cyber-leaders-elections/
  4. https://www.memeorandum.com/250430/p156
  5. https://www.crn.com/news/security/2025/trump-revokes-security-clearance-for-former-cisa-director-chris-krebs