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Former Air Force Secretary says he’ll sue Trump administration to restore his security clearance
The former Air Force secretary says the Pentagon revoked his access without publicly identifying the sensitive details he allegedly disclosed.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall intends to sue the Trump administration to restore his security clearance, which the Pentagon revoked after alleging he disclosed sensitive details about the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 now serving as Air Force One.
Officials allege Kendall disclosed sensitive information about the aircraft, though the Pentagon has not publicly specified what details he revealed. Kendall had told The New York Times the upgrade schedule appeared insufficient for "all the normal Air Force One modifications."
Kendall retained national-security attorney Mark Zaid to challenge the Pentagon's decision to bar him from holding "any sensitive position." Zaid confirmed the representation and wrote, "More to come," signaling imminent legal action.
Trump's March 2025 memorandum revoked security clearances for Biden, Lisa Monaco, Letitia James, and Zaid. This broader pattern suggests Kendall's lawsuit is part of a larger conflict regarding executive authority to strip clearances.
The Justice Department previously subpoenaed The New York Times reporters regarding sources for stories on the jet, though the department withdrew those subpoenas in July after a federal judge sharply criticized the government's legal work.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall will go to court to defend himself from the federal government by accusing him of disclosing data on Force One