Pentagon revokes former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s access to classified information

The Pentagon has stripped former U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall of his eligibility to access classified information and barred him from holding any sensitive position. This decision was made in response to allegations that he disclosed sensitive details about Air Force One's capabilities to the media. Last month, reports emerged from sources including The New York Times, highlighting security concerns surrounding the recently upgraded Air Force One, which was gifted by Qatar.

The $400 million retrofit transformed the aircraft, but it still lacked certain advanced security features of its predecessor. President Donald Trump utilized the newer plane for domestic flights and even had him travel to Turkey in mid-March, while he opted for an older model to depart the NATO summit. Later that month, Iran launched airstrikes against three Gulf Arab states, with the U.S. retaliating with its own strikes.

During a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on May 2, 2023, Kendall, who served under President Joe Biden, acknowledged that the plane's upgrades may not have been sufficient to address all standard modifications for Air Force One and expressed surprise at its use outside the U.S. The Justice Department subsequently subpoenaed The New York Times to compel its reporters to reveal their sources, a move that drew criticism over potential threats to press freedoms.

The subpoenas were eventually withdrawn after facing scrutiny from a judge over perceived legal inefficiencies.