Key Points: Frank Kendall Unauthorized Disclosure
- Frank Kendall unauthorized disclosure allegations led to the Pentagon revoking his classified access
- The Department of War says Kendall leaked details about Air Force One’s capabilities
- Reporting had previously revealed Trump’s Qatari-gifted jet lacked certain defensive features
- Kendall, who served as Air Force Secretary under Biden, hasn’t publicly responded yet
A former top Air Force official just lost his access to classified information entirely, accused of leaking sensitive details about the president’s own aircraft.
What The Frank Kendall Unauthorized Disclosure Involves
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced Friday evening that the Department of War revoked Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information, effective immediately.
Here’s the specific accusation driving that decision. Parnell said Kendall was the source behind reporting on Air Force One’s capabilities that appeared in a media outlet.
“Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty,” Parnell wrote on X. “Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it.”
The revocation doesn’t just cut off Kendall’s classified access either. It also formally bars him from ever holding any future sensitive government position.
The Air Force One Reporting At The Center Of This
Here’s the specific reporting this action appears to target. The New York Times had published detailed accounts about security concerns tied to Trump’s temporary Air Force One aircraft.
That plane, a Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, reportedly underwent a compressed retrofit process before entering presidential service.
According to that earlier reporting, the aircraft lacked certain “advanced defensive features” typically found on older, dedicated Air Force One models.
Parnell’s Friday statement didn’t name the specific outlet involved, though the timing and subject matter align closely with that previous coverage.
Who Frank Kendall Actually Is
Here’s important context about Kendall’s background. He served as Secretary of the Air Force under President Biden, overseeing the branch during a politically different administration.
Kendall has been out of government service since Biden left office in January 2025, raising questions among observers about exactly how he obtained the information in question.
This action fits into a broader pattern too. War Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s Pentagon has pursued multiple efforts this year to restrict classified access for former officials accused of unauthorized disclosures.
As of Friday night, Kendall hadn’t issued any public response to the Pentagon’s announcement or the underlying leak allegation against him.
With no criminal charges filed yet, and Kendall remaining publicly silent, this story now sits at the intersection of national security policy and the ongoing political tension between the current administration and officials who served under its predecessor.