President-elect Donald Trump is potentially seeking top secret security clearances for his children, sources tell CBS News.

60 Minutes interview: President-elect Donald Trump

The Trump team has asked the White House to explore the possibility of getting his children the top secret security clearances. Logistically, the children would need to be designated by the current White House as national security advisers to their father to receive top secret clearances. However, once Mr. Trump becomes president, he would be able to put in the request himself.

His children would need to fill out the security questionnaire (SF-86) and go through the requisite background checks.

While nepotism rules prevent the president-elect from hiring his kids to work in the White House, they do not need to be government officials to receive top secret security clearances.

The issue raises another layer of questions about the unique role his children are playing and conflicts of interest with their running his network of businesses.

Mr. Trump’s children Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr., as well as son-in-law Jared Kushner, were named to the president-elect’s transition team late last week. Though they were an integral part of his campaign team, Mr. Trump’s children have all stated that they will not hold formal roles in the government.

“No,” Ivanka told CBS News’ Lesley Stahl when asked during a “60 Minutes” interview if she would join the administration. “I’m going to be a daughter. 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.” </s> Republican President-elect Donald Trump's team has asked the White House to explore the possibility of getting his children top-secret security clearances, CBS News said on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

Daughter Ivanka, sons Eric and Donald Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner were close advisers to Trump's campaign and are part of his transition team announced on Friday. The CBS report did not specify for which Trump children top-secret clearance was being sought. </s> (L-R) Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump attend the ground breaking of the Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office Building in Washington July 23, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s team has asked the White House to explore the possibility of getting his children top-secret security clearances, CBS News said on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

Daughter Ivanka, sons Eric and Donald Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner were close advisers to Trump’s campaign and are part of his transition team announced on Friday. The CBS report did not specify for which Trump children top-secret clearance was being sought. </s> According to a pool news report, the official said the President-elect did not request that this step be taken, and the Trump children have not started filling out paperwork for such clearances.

"That's not something I'm expecting right now," the transition official told the press pool.

It is unusual for a president's children to be so clued in to White House policy. But the three kids have long been essential advisers to their father's presidential bid, and were named last week to the presidential transition committee -- which raises conflict-of-interest questions given that they will also manage Trump's massive business enterprise.

And Kushner, who has been one of Trump's most trusted confidants is expected to be heavily involved in Trump's White House, perhaps in a formal capacity. If given merely "secret" clearance, the four might have access to secure communications technology or perhaps to travel schedules and Secret Service procedures. It would likely not mean the Trump children start getting operational or analytical intelligence reports in their inbox -- unless they have a job that requires it. More likely, it would mean if there is a document they need to see for what they are doing, then they will have the functional clearance to look at it. </s> In an unprecedented use of authority, president Donald Trump revoked former CIA director John Brennan’s security clearance. Brennan has been one of Trump’s most prominent critics.

“I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information, including by controlling access to it. Today, in fulfilling that responsibility, I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency,” Trump said in a statement pronounced in the White House briefing room by his press secretary Sarah Sanders. “Mr. Brennan’s lying and recent conduct characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation’s most closely held secrets.”

Brennan is the first Trump target since the White House announced last month that the president was considering taking action against his most vocal critics in terms of national security.

Brennan responded via Twitter, by saying: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principales are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent,” the security expert tweeted.

Brennan is well-regarded and respected by both Democrats and Republicans. He served as homeland security advisor and later CIA director under President Barack Obama. </s> (FILES) In this file photo taken on May 23, 2017, former CIA Director John Brennan testifies during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing about Russian actions during the 2016 election on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 revoked security clearance for former CIA Director John Brennan. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: Trump rev ORIG FILE ID: AFP_18E1DM

WASHINGTON – Striking at one of his fiercest critics over Russia, President Trump said Wednesday he has revoked the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, and continues to review the clearances of other Barack Obama administration officials.

Brennan has used his status "to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations" and "wild outbursts on the Internet and television about this administration," Trump said in a statement read by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

As critics accused Trump of seeking to silence opponents, the president added names to his list of other Obama-era officials whose security clearances are under review: FBI and Justice Department officials involved in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Brennan, like many of his supporters, called the decision part of a broader effort by Trump to "suppress freedom of speech" and "punish critics."

"It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out," Brennan tweeted. "My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent."

Some of Brennan's supporters called it nothing less than the compilation of a Trump blacklist.

"This has zero to do with national security," tweeted Michael Bromwich, an attorney for former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, whose security clearance is one of those under review. "This is an Official Enemies List. The offense: exercising 1st Amendment rights."

More: President Trump considers revoking security clearances for former U.S. officials

More: Security clearances: Yes, President Trump can yank them, and other things to know

Clapper, in an interview on CNN, said he would continue to speak out even if he loses his security clearance.

If the rule is "the only way I can speak is to be in an adulation mode of this president, I'm sorry, I don't think I could sign up for that," Clapper told CNN.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called it "a stunning abuse of power" and an attempt to distract from Trump's many scandals. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump again demonstrated "how deeply insecure and vindictive he is – two character flaws dangerous in any President."

The Brennan decision came quickly, less than a month after Trump announced the review on July 23.

Maybe less: The written version of Trump's order was dated July 26.

Brennan has been among Trump's most acerbic critics.

After Trump's July 16 news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin – one in which Trump appeared to accept Putin's denials of election interference over the conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community – Brennan described the U.S. president's performance as "nothing short of treasonous."

In an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC, Brennan called Trump "dangerous to our nation."

Trump announced last month he was reviewing the security clearances of a number of ex-Obama officials, including Brennan as well as former FBI director director James Comey, Clapper, former CIA director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and McCabe.

In making his announcement about Brennan, Trump added two new names to the list, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.

Strzok is the FBI official fired last week in part because of anti-Trump text messages he sent to Page.

Also on the list: Current Justice Department official Bruce Ohr. Supporters of Trump said Ohr was in contact with retired British spy Christopher Steele, who compiled a dossier alleging a relationship between Trump and Russians involved in election interference.

Russian efforts to favor Trump by hacking the emails of Democratic officials and pushing fake news about presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are currently under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump has denounced the Mueller investigation as a "hoax" concocted by Democrats upset at their election loss.

Security clearances for ex-government employees are not that unusual, and those who have them do not always exercise them.

Former leaders of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to maintain access to classified information, both as a professional courtesy and so that they can consult with successors on certain national security issues.

"Neither of these justifications supports Mr. Brennan's continued access to classified information," Sanders said in reading Trump's statement.

Any benefit of consultations with Brennan is "outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior," the Trump statement said, and that behavior "has tested and far exceeded the limits of any professional courtesy that may have been due to him."

More: Ex-CIA chief John Brennan to Trump: 'America will triumph over you'
President-elect Donald Trump is seeking top secret security clearances for his children, according to CBS News.