Top military officials faced polygraphs over leaks on munitions, sources say

Some of the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. military underwent polygraph tests as a result of a major leak investigation, sources informed CBS News. President Trump expressed fury over the leaks, according to three anonymous sources. Only a select few had access to classified information regarding the nation's stockpiles of sophisticated weapons, and there were concerns about potential foreign intelligence assets among them.

Polygraph tests are typically routine for top military and civilian officials, but the extensive number of individuals subjected to testing in this instance was unprecedented, officials revealed. Dozens of people, including U.S. Central Command officials and other combatant commanders, were given the tests earlier this summer. The polygraph questions extensively covered various national security-related matters, and no one failed the tests aimed at detecting leaks to the media.

In a statement to CBS News, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that the Department takes all leaks of classified national security information very seriously and conducts thorough investigations. However, not all senior military officials were included in the testing; for instance, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, was not polygraphed.

The New York Times initially reported on the polygraph tests, following CBS News and other news outlets that had previously reported on the rapid pace at which the U.S. was using some of its most advanced munitions during the war.