The Defense Department revoked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s access to classified information Friday, accusing the Biden administration official of leaking sensitive details about Air Force One to a media outlet.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the decision, which also bars Kendall from holding any government position requiring a security clearance.
“This action follows his unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One’s capabilities to a media outlet,” Parnell said in a statement. “Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty. Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it.”
The Pentagon did not name the outlet or specify what information was disclosed.
The revocation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of President Trump’s decision to accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar to serve as a temporary presidential aircraft. The plane, designated the VC-25B Bridge, reportedly lacks several defensive systems found on the standard Air Force One fleet, including missile-warning technology, advanced anti-missile countermeasures and infrared jammers.
Trump used the Qatari jet for a July 7-8 trip to a NATO summit in Turkey.
Kendall told National Public Radio last month that he doubted the aircraft could be brought up to Air Force One security standards on a short timeline.
“A month is not enough time to do anything significant,” Kendall said. “Software could be done. Software changes can be made relatively easily anyplace. Hardware modifications? I’m having a hard time imagining any that could be done in a month that are of any serious significance.”
Kendall served as Air Force secretary under President Biden from 2021 to 2025.
A long-standing Washington practice allows certain senior officials from past administrations to retain security clearances after leaving office, so incoming administrations can consult them on prior decisions or historical operations during a crisis. Kendall’s revocation strips him of that access entirely.
