Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he will sue the Trump administration to restore his security clearance after the Pentagon revoked it over allegations that he disclosed sensitive information about the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 now serving as Air Force One.
Kendall Challenges Clearance Revocation in Court
"As my mother taught me years ago, you stand up to bullies," Kendall told CNN on Monday. He denied revealing classified information and said the administration has used clearance revocations to retaliate against critics. Kendall, who led the Air Force under President Joe Biden, said Friday he was "completely mystified" by the decision.
The Pentagon revoked Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information and barred him from holding "any sensitive position." Officials alleged he disclosed sensitive details about the aircraft’s capabilities, but AP reported the Pentagon has not publicly identified what information he allegedly revealed.
Qatari Air Force One Draws Scrutiny
The dispute adds another chapter to controversy surrounding Trump’s Qatar-donated aircraft. Benzinga previously reported that Trump unveiled the jet for presidential service after a roughly $400 million retrofit. AP noted on Monday that the aircraft lacks some advanced anti-missile capabilities found on the older presidential jets.
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Benzinga reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Kendall had told The New York Times in July that the compressed upgrade schedule appeared insufficient for "all the normal Air Force One modifications." Trump nevertheless unveiled the aircraft in June and praised it as superior to the existing fleet.
Clearance Fight Joins Broader Trump Crackdown
Kendall hired national-security attorney Mark Zaid, who confirmed the representation and wrote, "More to come." Trump’s March 2025 memorandum also revoked Zaid’s clearance alongside those of Biden, Lisa Monaco and Letitia James.
The clearance fight follows an earlier legal clash over reporting on the jet. The Justice Department subpoenaed three New York Times reporters about their sources, but withdrew the subpoenas in July after a federal judge sharply criticized the government’s legal work.
Criticism has also arrived from the likes of Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), who called the plane "Air Fraud One", and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who cited the jet while accusing Trump of corruption. Trump has defended accepting the aircraft, saying Qatar donated it to the Defense Department.
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