Pentagon strips e Air Force secy of security clearance over Air Force One claim

Published 8 August 2026 · us

Air Force secretary Frank Kendall has been stripped of his security clearance and barred from from holding “any sensitive position," after the Pentagon accused him

Air Force secretary Frank Kendall has been stripped of his security clearance and barred from from holding “any sensitive position," after the Pentagon accused him of sharing classified details about Air Force One's capabilities with the media.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the action on Friday, saying it was effective immediately. “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,” Parnell wrote on X.Parnell did not identify the outlet Kendall allegedly shared the information with. Kendall told news agency AP late Friday that he was “completely mystified” by the revocation.The move follows reporting last month, including by The New York Times, about security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. The aircraft underwent a $400 million retrofit and has been used domestically, while US president Donald Trump also flew on it to Turkey last month.“I’ve always been extremely careful to not say anything classified, and as far as I know I have not,” Kendall told AP, adding, “No one has said anything to me about what I’m asserted to have revealed and I can’t imagine what it could be.”The Times reported last month that the new aircraft lacked some of the advanced security features of the older Air Force One jets.

Two former Air Force officials told the newspaper they were surprised Trump had used the new aircraft overseas, where security risks were greater.Kendall, who served under former president Joe Biden, was quoted by The New York Times as saying, “Time didn’t permit all the normal Air Force One modifications, so some mix of security, communications and support is missing.”“With the Iran situation, this could be of concern,” Kendall said. “Frankly, I’m surprised to see this plane used outside the U.S.”Kendall had been in charge of the Air Force when the department was pressing Boeing to accelerate its delayed contract for two new Air Force One aircraft. He later told US media organisations that the Qatari aircraft would have required three to four years of modifications to meet the standards of the older Boeing 747s.Trump flew the Qatari aircraft to Turkey for a Nato summit but later switched to an older Air Force One aircraft to leave the summit as the US launched airstrikes on Iran and Tehran attacked three Gulf Arab states.Trump reportedly made the switch at the urging of the Secret Service.