Trump’s top vetting aide born in Soviet Union hasn’t filed security clearance form but is screening thousands for top jobs

The man overseeing the personnel pipeline for a second Trump administration hasn’t cleared his own. Three senior officials told the New York Post that the aide in charge of vetting thousands of potential hires has not submitted his Standard Form 86. That’s the 100-page national security questionnaire required for anyone seeking a clearance. The form asks about foreign contacts, financial liabilities, criminal history, and allegiance to the United States. It’s not optional. It’s the baseline.

The aide’s name has not been released publicly, but insiders say he holds sweeping authority over who gets in and who gets blocked. He’s reportedly been working out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, coordinating with Trump’s transition team and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. His job is to screen every applicant for ideological loyalty and national security risk. But his own background remains unverified.

Sources say he was born in the former Soviet Union. That’s not disqualifying. But it raises questions. The SF-86 requires disclosure of all foreign ties, including family members, travel, and dual citizenship. Without that form, there’s no clearance. Without clearance, there’s no access to classified material. Yet this aide is already reviewing files, attending briefings, and shaping the next administration’s personnel map.

The Office of Personnel Management confirmed that no waiver has been issued. The FBI has not commented. The White House has declined to answer questions. The aide continues to operate without formal clearance. That’s not a clerical error. That’s a breach of protocol.

The Trump team is pushing back. They say the aide is working in a “pre-clearance” capacity and will submit the form soon. But the timeline is vague. The responsibilities are not. He’s already influencing who will run the Department of Justice, the CIA, and the Pentagon. He’s already rejecting candidates flagged for disloyalty. He’s already building the shortlist for Cabinet posts.

Sources:

https://politomix.com/ny-post/2262268/powerful-trump-aide-whos-charge-vetting-thousands/