Frank Kendall III, who served as the Secretary of the Air Force, publicly declared on Sunday that he would be unable to serve in the current Trump administration. During an appearance on ABC’s 'This Week,' Kendall expressed strong opposition to the direction of the Pentagon under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Kendall’s primary grievance centers on the management of the Department of Defense. He characterized the current administration's approach as an attempt to politicize the military, stating, 'I’ve never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth.' This public rebuke highlights a growing tension between former high-ranking civilian officials and the current executive branch’s appointments within the defense sector.

The comments follow a broader trend of scrutiny regarding the administration's personnel choices for the Pentagon. While Kendall’s remarks focus on the perceived politicization of the armed forces, they reflect a wider debate among former officials regarding the traditional boundaries between political appointees and military operations. The Hill noted that this criticism comes amid broader concerns from various former defense officials regarding the current administration's oversight of the military establishment. As of now, the administration has not issued a formal response to Kendall’s specific claims regarding the politicization of the Department of Defense.