WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon revoked former U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information and barred him from holding any sensitive position on August 7, 2026. The department alleged that Kendall disclosed sensitive information about the capabilities of a new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One to the media.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the revocation in a post on X. He stated that safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty for those entrusted with national security responsibilities.

"Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it," Parnell said in the post. The official record cited an unauthorized disclosure regarding the aircraft's capabilities as the basis for the administrative action.

Parnell did not specify which media outlet Kendall was accused of sharing the classified information with. He also did not say if the former secretary would be referred for prosecution by federal authorities.

The administrative action follows reporting last month regarding security concerns over the new presidential aircraft. The newspaper reported that the jet, donated by Qatar last year, lacked the advanced antimissile capabilities of its predecessor.

President Donald Trump flew on the new Air Force One to Turkey last month. The aircraft has been put into service domestically since its arrival at the Pentagon.

Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to leave the NATO summit after the trip to Turkey. That the president made the switch to the older plane at the urging of the Secret Service.

President Donald Trump denied to reporters that the swap to the older plane was due to security concerns. He said he is under threat "all the time" and is Iran’s "No. 1" target.

Kendall previously expressed surprise that the new Air Force One was used outside the United States. He had stated that the aircraft would require significant work before it could meet standard operational requirements.

Kendall said the time for upgrades to the plane would not have been enough for all the normal Air Force One modifications. He previously the new Qatari-gifted jet would have needed three to four years of modifications to meet the same standards as the older Boeing 747s.

Kendall served as U.S. Air Force Secretary under President Joe Biden. The leak probe surrounding the aircraft has involved broader investigative steps by federal agencies.

The Justice Department subpoenaed The New York Times reporters to try to compel them to identify their sources. Officials at the White House were asked to turn over their phones as part of the leak probe.

The Justice Department withdrew the subpoenas last month after criticism from a judge for sloppy legal work. Gen. Mark Milley is the retired Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.

The revocation of security clearance for a former cabinet-level official reflects the Pentagon's enforcement of protocols regarding classified defense technology. The case centers on a high-profile asset, the new Air Force One, which has drawn scrutiny over its defensive systems and readiness for international travel.

The incident connects to ongoing legal and journalistic tensions, including the Justice Department's recent attempts to identify news sources and internal White House device reviews. The outcome shows the intersection of media reporting on national security assets and the administrative consequences for former officials alleged to have breached confidentiality.

Why It Matters

The revocation of a former cabinet secretary's security clearance demonstrates the Pentagon's enforcement of protocols regarding classified defense technology. This administrative action follows media reporting on the new Air Force One's capabilities and connects to broader leak probes involving the Justice Department and White House officials. The case shows the intersection of journalistic reporting on national security assets and the consequences for former officials alleged to have breached confidentiality.