Among the more than 130 top officials in the Trump White House who lack proper security clearances are Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and his top legal counsel Don McGahn.

An investigation by NBC News in the US reveals all are political appointees, and 47 of them have direct access to the current occupant of the Oval Office.  Only a quarter have gotten provisional security clearances, which means that at least 85 political appointees in the White House, vice president's office and National Security Council were working without permanent security clearances.

About 50 appointees were operating with interim security clearances while serving in offices closely linked to the West Wing, such as the National Economic Council, the Office of Management and Budget, the US Trade Representative and the White House executive residence.  And a stunning ten members of the National Security Council had only interim security clearances.

The issue of White House security moved to the front burner because of Rob Porter, the now-former White House aide who was forced to resign amid allegations he abused two ex-wives.  The FBI this week revealed that it had finished a background on him a year ago, while the White House claimed the process was ongoing.  Critics say White House staffers with skeletons in their closets are susceptible to blackmail and manipulation by foreign powers.