Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has had his security clearance revoked following accusations of leaking sensitive information about Air Force One, top Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced on X.

“Effective immediately, the Department of War has REVOKED former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s eligibility for access to classified information and his ability to hold any sensitive position,” Parnell wrote in the Friday post.

According to Parnell, Kendall allegedly shared details about the presidential aircraft’s capabilities with a news outlet.

“Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty,” Parnell said. “Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it.”

The security clearance revocation comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth steps up efforts to target Pentagon leakers. In July, Hegseth released a video promising a crackdown on unauthorized disclosures, while President Donald Trump publicly characterized leakers as treasonous and unpatriotic.

However, critics quickly pointed out Hegseth’s own record regarding sensitive national security data, including his involvement in the 2025 SignalGate incident.

During that incident, Hegseth faced scrutiny for using the messaging app Signal on his personal phone to transmit non-public plans about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. A later Pentagon inspector general review concluded that using the unapproved app violated department policy and created operational risks for military personnel.

Kendall, who currently works as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, served as Air Force Secretary under former President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025 and spent decades in the national security sector.

The leak accusations cited by Parnell stem from coverage surrounding a new Air Force One aircraft provided by the Qatari royal family. In a July 25 article, Kendall spoke to The New York Times regarding the donated jet, stating that people needed to be aware of its shortfalls relative to Air Force One and noting that those limitations added a measure of risk.

Prior to Kendall's clearance being pulled, the Trump administration attempted to subpoena phone records from four New York Times journalists and their relatives over their reporting on the aircraft's security issues.

The Justice Department later withdrew the subpoenas after U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian questioned government attorneys on whether they had adhered to legal standards governing press subpoenas.