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What did Frank Kendall reveal about Air Force One? What we know as Pentagon revokes ex-Air Force chief’s clearance
The Pentagon has revoked Frank Kendall’s access to classified information, accusing him of leaking details about Air Force One.
The Pentagon has revoked former US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information, accusing him of disclosing sensitive details to the media about the capabilities of the new Air Force One aircraft.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the decision Friday, saying Kendall was also barred from positions requiring access to classified information or other sensitive material. However, the Pentagon has not publicly identified the information Kendall allegedly disclosed or the media organization involved.
“Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty,” Parnell said in a post on X, adding that those who violate that responsibility lose the privilege of classified access.
What did Frank Kendall say about Air Force One?
The controversy centers on a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar and subsequently modified for presidential use. Kendall, who served as Air Force secretary under former President Joe Biden, was quoted by The New York Times discussing the aircraft and the limited timeline available for its conversion.
Kendall said the timeframe would not have been enough for “all the normal Air Force One modifications” and expressed surprise that the aircraft had been used outside the United States.
He has denied knowingly revealing classified information. Speaking to The Associated Press, Kendall said he was “completely mystified” by the Pentagon’s decision and maintained that he had always been careful when discussing sensitive matters.
Kendall also said he did not know what information the Pentagon believed he had disclosed and could not imagine what he might have revealed that was classified.
Why is the Qatari Air Force One under scrutiny?
The aircraft reportedly underwent an estimated $400 million retrofit before being put into domestic service. Questions about its capabilities intensified after President Donald Trump switched to an older Air Force One aircraft while leaving a NATO summit as the US launched strikes on Iran and Tehran attacked three Gulf Arab states.
A New York Times report raised questions about whether the newer aircraft had all the defensive and security capabilities of the existing Air Force One fleet. Trump rejected the suggestion that security concerns prompted the switch.
The Air Force has defended the conversion, saying it was completed without accepting risks to security, safety or secure communications. However, it has acknowledged that the Qatari aircraft does not contain every modification planned for the next generation of US-built Air Force One aircraft.
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What happens next for Kendall?
The Pentagon has not said whether Kendall has been referred to federal prosecutors or whether criminal charges are being considered. A clearance revocation is an administrative action and does not, by itself, establish criminal wrongdoing.
For now, the key details remain undisclosed: what Kendall allegedly revealed, which publication received the information and whether authorities believe any classified material was actually disclosed.
Kendall continues to deny knowingly releasing classified information, leaving the circumstances behind the Pentagon’s decision unresolved.
