Pentagon revokes former Air Force chief’s security clearance over Air Force One disclosures

The Pentagon has revoked former US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information and barred him from holding any sensitive position, accusing him of disclosing classified details about Air Force One to the media.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the decision, saying the action followed Kendall’s “unauthorized disclosure” of classified information concerning the capabilities of the presidential aircraft.

Parnell did not identify the media outlet to which Kendall allegedly disclosed the information.

Kendall, who served as Air Force secretary under former President Joe Biden, has denied the allegation. Speaking to The Associated Press, he said he was “completely mystified” by the decision and insisted that he had always been careful not to reveal classified information.

Why is the Pentagon targeting Kendall?

The decision comes after recent reports raised questions about the security capabilities of a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar to be used as Air Force One.

The aircraft underwent a reported $400 million retrofit before being put into domestic service. President Donald Trump also used the plane during his trip to Turkey for the Nato summit last month.

However, Trump returned from the summit on an older Air Force One aircraft. US officials previously told CBS News that the decision followed intelligence about a credible threat to the president from Iran and allied groups, including a possible missile attack against his aircraft.

The older plane has more advanced military defences and secure communication systems. The newer Qatari aircraft, meanwhile, was rushed into service and does not have some of the capabilities normally expected from Air Force One.

The White House later said Trump would continue using the older aircraft while the Qatari plane undergoes additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall.

What did Kendall say about the Qatari plane?

Kendall had spoken publicly about the aircraft and was quoted in reports questioning whether the rushed conversion had allowed enough time for all the normal modifications required for Air Force One.

He told AP on Friday that he remained confident that he had not disclosed classified information.

“I’ve always been extremely careful to not say anything classified,” Kendall said. “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 US Air Force has maintained that the rapid conversion of the Qatari aircraft was carried out without compromising security, safety or secure communications. At the same time, it has acknowledged that several complex modifications were left out.

Among them were changes to the aircraft’s exit doors and the installation of multiple stairs built into the plane’s hull.

Pentagon’s wider crackdown on classified information

The move against Kendall is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration involving security clearances of current and former national security officials.

The administration revoked the clearances of 37 current and former officials last year. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also removed security protections and clearance from retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

It remains unclear whether Kendall could face criminal prosecution. The Pentagon did not say whether the matter had been referred to the Justice Department.

Allegations involving the unauthorised disclosure of classified information can lead to prosecution under US espionage laws. One of the most prominent cases involved former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who disclosed a large collection of classified US surveillance documents.

In another major case, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2024 for leaking classified military documents related to the war in Ukraine.