Pentagon revokes Frank Kendall's clearance over Air Force One leak allegation

The Pentagon revoked Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information and barred the former Air Force secretary from any sensitive Department of War position, citing an alleged unauthorized disclosure about Air Force One’s capabilities. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell announced the action on Aug. 7, 2026.

Kendall led the U.S. Air Force from July 28, 2021, to Jan. 20, 2025, making the loss of access a significant break from the usual post-service relationship between senior civilian defense officials and the department they once ran. The Pentagon did not identify the specific disclosure publicly, leaving the allegation broad while making the practical consequences clear: Kendall can no longer see classified material and is blocked from any post that depends on such access.

The action came as Air Force One security drew fresh scrutiny. On July 11, 2026, The Jerusalem Post reported that the Trump administration subpoenaed journalists after coverage of concerns about the new Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, including questions about advanced antimissile capabilities and other security features. The aircraft at the center of that debate was described as the VC-25B “Bridge,” an interim presidential aircraft converted from the donated Boeing 747.

The revocation also fits a broader pattern of clearance actions under Donald Trump. On Jan. 21, 2025, Trump revoked the security clearances of 50 former intelligence officials, and in March 2025 the White House issued a presidential action rescinding security clearances and access to classified information from specified individuals. Against that backdrop, Kendall’s case is now a test of whether the government is enforcing a routine security standard or using clearance powers in a way that punishes former officials.