Pentagon Puts Roughly 50 Joint Staff Members Through Polygraph Tests in Leak Hunt

The U.S. government has conducted polygraph examinations on approximately 50 Joint Staff members amid an investigation into leaks of classified information to journalists, according to a report by The New York Times. The leaks specifically involve the Iran war, with a focus on the creation of a munitions shortage, The Times noted.

The screenings took place in August and encompassed both military personnel and civilian staff. During the tests, the individuals were questioned about whether they had disclosed any information to journalists, including details about the significant munition shortage in the conflict between the United States and Iran. While a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately comment on the matter, a department official stated via spokesperson Sean Parnell that the Pentagon "does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but takes all leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates accordingly."

The official added that safeguarding classified information is crucial for the security of the United States and its deployed troops. The Pentagon's push to uncover leaks echoes efforts by Donald Trump's administration, which sought to prevent unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information. In May, The Washington Post revealed Trump's desire for mandatory non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for federal employees to curb leaks.

These agreements aimed to shield "all non-public, confidential, or proprietary information" from public access. The same month, The Wall Street Journal and CNN reported that the administration had sought to subpoena reporters' records in an attempt to curb leaks concerning the Iran war. The White House allegedly presented then-acting Attorney General Todd Blanche with a collection of news articles that it believed compromised national security, marked with a note labeled "Treason."