Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s security clearance revoked
Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has had his security clearance revoked following accusations of leaking sensitive information about Air Force One, reports BritPanorama.
Top Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the revocation on X, stating, “Effective immediately, the Department of War has REVOKED former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s eligibility for access to classified information and his ability to hold any sensitive position.”
According to Parnell, Kendall allegedly shared details about the presidential aircraft’s capabilities with a news outlet. “Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty,” Parnell continued. “Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it.”
The decision comes amid a broader initiative by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reduce unauthorized disclosures within the Pentagon. In July, Hegseth committed to a stringent approach against leakers, while President Donald Trump has labelled such individuals as treasonous.
Critics have highlighted Hegseth’s own controversial history regarding sensitive information, referencing the 2025 SignalGate incident where he used an unapproved messaging application to share sensitive military strategies. A Pentagon inspection later determined this practice violated established protocols and posed risks to personnel.
Kendall, who currently serves as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, held the position of Air Force Secretary from 2021 to 2025 under President Biden and has extensive experience in national security.
The leak allegations reported by Parnell can be traced back to Kendall’s statements about a new Air Force One aircraft provided by the Qatari royal family. In a July 25 article, he informed The New York Times that the aircraft’s limitations posed increased risks.
Prior to the revocation of Kendall’s security clearance, the Trump administration made attempts to subpoena phone records from four journalists associated with The New York Times, probing their coverage on security concerns surrounding the aircraft.
Eventually, the Justice Department retracted the subpoenas after federal judge Arun Subramanian questioned whether legal standards concerning press freedoms had been respected.
This sequence of events underscores ongoing tensions within the U.S. military establishment regarding transparency and accountability in sensitive national security matters. The fallout from Kendall’s revocation may resonate beyond him, reflecting broader issues within the Pentagon as it grapples with institutional integrity.
