Former Air Force Secretary says he’ll sue Trump administration to restore his security clearance

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced on Monday that he plans to sue the Trump administration to restore his revoked security clearance. Kendall, a West Point graduate and former White House chief of the Air Force under President Joe Biden, claims he was stripped of his clearance after being accused of disclosing sensitive information about the aircraft serving as Air Force One.

The source of his clearance's revocation was his alleged disclosure of classified information. However, Kendall has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He spoke about his decision to sue during a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill, citing a historical pattern of retaliation against critics by the administration when it comes to security clearances.

Kendall took to CNN to declare his intention to take legal action, quoting his mother's advice to stand up to bullies. Kendall's case attracted the attention of Mark Zaid, a well-known national security attorney who has previously assisted clients in maintaining their clearances despite investigations. Zaid confirmed Kendall's hiring on X, stating, "More to come," indicating that his legal representation of Kendall is only the beginning.

Zaid, who was also targeted by the Trump administration's clearance revocation efforts, has a history of advocating for military and civilian clients dealing with clearance issues. In a March 2025 executive order, Trump added former President Joe Biden, his family members, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and New York Attorney General Letitia James to a list of individuals deemed unsuitable for clearance due to their perceived unfitness for national security roles.

Additionally, in August 2025, Trump revoked security clearances for 37 current and former national security officials, including those involved in matters that Trump had criticized, such as the intelligence community's assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf.