U.S. Strips Former Air Force Secretary Kendall’s Clearance After Air Force One Leak Dispute Exposes Security Frictions
The Pentagon has revoked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s classified access, accusing him of leaking sensitive details about security flaws on the new U.S. presidential jet gifted by Qatar. Kendall denies disclosing classified information, putting a spotlight on how far the Defense Department will go to contain discussion of vulnerabilities in one of America’s most symbolic aircraft.
The Pentagon’s decision to strip former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall of his classified access is turning a normally quiet administrative tool into a public test of how the United States handles uncomfortable truths about its own vulnerabilities. At stake is not just one official’s career, but how far the Defense Department is willing to go to keep security shortcomings in a presidential aircraft out of the public eye. According to U.S. defense officials, Kendall’s clearance was revoked after he was accused of leaking information about security deficiencies in a new Air Force One aircraft donated by Qatar during Donald Trump’s presidency. The aircraft, distinct from the heavily modified Boeing…
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