Recent reporting indicates that Pete Hegseth has taken action to revoke the access of former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. The move follows previous public criticism from Kendall, who had expressed concerns regarding a donated jumbo jet intended for use as an Air Force One-style aircraft. In past media appearances, Kendall warned that the aircraft lacked the necessary security modifications standard for presidential travel, suggesting that its use introduced a 'measure of risk.'

While the specific administrative details of the revocation remain limited, the timing has led to speculation that the decision was a direct response to Kendall’s earlier warnings. There is currently no official statement from Hegseth’s office confirming the motivation behind the decision or the specific nature of the access that was revoked. The situation highlights ongoing tensions regarding the management of government assets and the professional relationship between current leadership and former officials who have publicly questioned their operational decisions. Because official confirmation is lacking, the narrative surrounding the 'revenge' aspect remains speculative, relying on the proximity of the revocation to Kendall’s previous public critiques.