An actuation system to control clearance in a turbomachine including a shaft bearing including at least one axially displaceable thrust bearing. The axially displaceable thrust bearing configured to axially displace a rotating component relative to a stationary component to control the clearance therebetween. The system further including a plurality of actuators coupled to the at least one axially displaceable thrust bearing and configured to actuate the at least one axially displaceable thrust bearing to control the clearance. The plurality of actuators is configured to deactivate a diametrically opposed actuator in the event of an actuator failure to maintain zero moment. In a topography network, each diametrically opposed actuator pair is coupled to a single control line. In an alternate topography network, alternating actuators are coupled to a single control line. In addition, a method of actuating a thrust bearing to control clearance in a turbomachine is disclosed.