Frank Kendall Sues Trump Administration Over Revoked Security Clearance
Frank Kendall, the former Secretary of the Air Force, has declared his intention to sue the Trump administration to reinstate his security clearance, which was revoked last Friday. The administration accused Kendall of disclosing sensitive information regarding a jet gifted by Qatar that is currently being used as Air Force One. In a statement on CNN, Kendall emphasized the administration's history of retaliating against critics by stripping their security clearances, asserting, "As my mother taught me years ago, you stand up to bullies." He has denied any wrongdoing regarding the disclosure of classified information.
Kendall has hired Mark Zaid, a well-known national security attorney who has previously taken legal action against the Trump administration for similar issues. Zaid confirmed Kendall's hiring in a post on X, stating, "More to come." Zaid specializes in assisting military and civilian clients in maintaining their security clearances amid investigations.
The Trump administration has previously targeted individuals it perceived as adversaries, stripping security clearances from several officials. In a March 2025 executive order, Trump named various individuals, including former President Joe Biden and members of his family, as unsuitable for retaining their clearances, citing national interest concerns.
In August 2025, the administration revoked the clearances of 37 additional national security officials, many of whom were involved in matters that angered Trump, such as the intelligence community's assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Additionally, Trump has attempted to suppress reports regarding issues with the Qatari-gifted jet, which lacks advanced anti-missile technology. Last month, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to New York Times reporters covering security concerns related to the aircraft, but later withdrew them after facing criticism from a federal judge for inadequate legal justification.
