Saturday, 8 August 2026, 12:04
Former U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has lost his ability to access classified information. The Pentagon announced Friday that Kendall is also barred from holding any sensitive position after accusing him of leaking information about Air Force One.
The dispute centers on the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 that received a $400 million retrofit and upgrade. According to reporting last month, the plane lacks some advanced antimissile features found on older Air Force One models. President Donald Trump flew on the newer jet to Turkey, but used an older model to leave the NATO summit after U.S. airstrikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on three Gulf Arab states.
The New York Times reported that the Secret Service urged the president to switch planes because the newer aircraft lacked security features. Trump denied the swap was due to security concerns, while acknowledging he faces threats "all the time."
Kendall, who served under President Joe Biden, told the Times that the upgrade timeline would not have allowed for "all the normal Air Force One modifications" and expressed surprise that the plane was used outside the U.S.
"Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote. "Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it."
The Air Force has said the jet's conversion was done "without accepting any risk regarding security, safety, or secure communications," but also acknowledged differences in capabilities. It said several complex engineering modifications were intentionally excluded, including widened doors and built-in hull stairs.
The Justice Department subpoenaed reporters from The New York Times to identify their sources. After criticism from a judge over sloppy legal work, the department withdrew the subpoenas last month.
The Pentagon did not name the media outlet Kendall allegedly shared information with. Parnell also did not say whether Kendall would be referred for prosecution. In past cases, such accusations often lead to Espionage Act referrals.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has revoked security clearances. Last year, it stripped clearances from 37 current and former national security officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also pulled security protections and clearances for Gen. Mark Milley, the retired Joint Chiefs chairman, early in the administration.
Previous leaks have brought severe consequences. Edward Snowden was charged under the Obama administration, and a Massachusetts Air National Guard member was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2024 for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine.
The Pentagon's action is a Washington decision, but it resonates in California, home to major defense contractors, aerospace firms, and military installations. Changes to security clearance rules can affect many workers in the state's defense sector. No California agency or jurisdiction is directly involved in this case.
Kendall served as Air Force Secretary from 2021 to 2025 under the Biden administration. The Air Force One controversy is part of a broader pattern of clearance revocations and heightened scrutiny of leaks involving President Trump's inner circle and national security establishment.
The revocation is a significant escalation in the fight over Air Force One disclosures. Whether Kendall faces prosecution remains unclear, but the case highlights ongoing tensions between press freedom, classified information, and presidential security.
