Pentagon revokes former Air Force secretary's clearance, sparking debate over lifetime access

The Department of Defense cancelled the security clearance of Frank Kendall, the former Air Force secretary who served under President Joe Biden, after he reportedly told a journalist that the Qatar-donated jumbo jet now used as Air Force One lacks some defensive gear the previous aircraft carried. Kendall said he was "completely mystified" by the action. This episode illustrates a systemic practice where retired officials keep active clearances, allowing them to serve as senior advisers to defense contractors and retain privileged access to classified information.

The column argues that such perpetual access contradicts the principle that loyalty belongs to the office, not the individual, and fuels the revolving-door relationship Eisenhower warned could expand the military-industrial complex. It also notes that former intelligence officials have used lingering credibility to shape political debates, citing the 2020 letter on the Hunter Biden laptop. The author proposes that clearances should expire the moment a person leaves federal service, with any future access granted only on a need-based, renewable basis, eliminating the "lifetime badge" that lets ex-officials wield insider status without current responsibilities.