Former Air Force secretary says he ‘couldn’t serve’ in Trump administration

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III said Sunday he “couldn’t serve” in the Trump administration, blasting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership of the Pentagon.

“I’ve never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth,” Kendall told Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “ This Week .”

Earlier this week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after months of strife with Hegseth. Hegseth also ousted Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George in April and has blocked promotions of four Army officers with ties to branch officials he fired.

The Defense secretary also removed six Army officers from two-star general consideration earlier this week, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill.

Kendall, who led the Air Force during the Biden administration, said Hegseth imposing his will on the armed services “is rippling all the way down through the ranks” of the military.

“It’s causing people to be afraid and … in many cases I think he’s not getting good advice. Because people are afraid to tell him things that he doesn’t want to hear,” he told Raddatz, referring to Hegseth.

“Very good people that I know are leaving because of the climate of fear and because of the things the military is being asked to do,” Kendall added.

Given that “climate of fear” Kendall referenced, the former Air Force secretary said senior military officers have an “obligation” to “stand up” to administration officials attempting to “do something which is morally wrong, unethical” or illegal.

“I’m afraid they’re not doing that,” Kendall said, later pointing out the ongoing U.S. military campaign on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean — which he called “unconstitutional.”

Later in the interview, Raddatz asked Kendall what he would do if he were still Air Force secretary. But he dismissed the premise of her question, saying, “I couldn’t serve in this administration.”