Polygraph Tests at Pentagon - National Security Leak Investigation

Senior military officials subjected to polygraph tests in Pentagon leaks investigation

Dozens of top U.S. military leaders faced polygraph examinations this summer as the Pentagon intensified its hunt for those behind leaks of classified information on American weapons reserves, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some officials caught in the probe.

Earlier this summer, several dozen U.S. military and civilian officials, including personnel from U.S. Central Command and other combatant commands, were ordered to take polygraph tests as part of an expanding national security leak investigation.

The Pentagon’s extraordinary step targeted those with access to some of the nation’s most sensitive defense secrets, as officials sought to identify the source of leaks about U.S. weapons stockpiles and other classified matters. The push followed mounting frustration at the highest levels, three sources told CBS News that President Donald Trump was furious about the leaks and demanded aggressive action.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has made combating leaks a public priority, announced in July that the Pentagon and Justice Department had formed a joint task force to identify and prosecute those suspected of leaking classified government information to the media.

Hegseth also granted the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel broad authority to demand records and cooperation from military officials for leak probes, and Pentagon personnel were instructed to respond to such requests within two days. These moves signaled a dramatic escalation in the federal government’s approach to internal security, raising the pressure on senior leaders across the Defense Department.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell underscored the seriousness of the effort, stating: “The Department does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but takes all leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates accordingly. Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world.”

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