USA05 September, 20263 min read
Pentagon Polygraphs About 50 Joint Staff Members Over Unauthorized Media Leaks
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About 50 Joint Staff members subjected to polygraph tests in August. Probed leaks about dwindling U.S. munitions stockpiles amid Iran war.
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Polygraphs in Pentagon leak probe
The Pentagon subjected about 50 members of the U.S. military’s Joint Staff to lie-detector tests after a series of unauthorised media leaks, according to a report by The New York Times, with the inquiry focused on whether civilian and military personnel leaked classified details to reporters. The tests were administered in August, after news reports highlighted severe drops in key weapons supplies including long-range missiles and Patriot air defence interceptors, and investigators questioned military officers and civilian employees on the Joint Staff about whether they disclosed classified information to members of the press.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The New York Times the department takes leaks of national security information “extremely seriously and investigates accordingly,” and he added that “Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world.” The Joint Staff, which consists of between 1,500 and 2,000 military and civilian staff, plays a key role in coordinating operational strategy, policy and war planning with combat commands globally, and the polygraph campaign was described as unprecedented at senior levels by military experts and former officials.
Trump fury and Pentagon tensions
President Donald Trump repeatedly pushed officials to crack down on unauthorised disclosures, and he publicly branded critical media coverage regarding munition shortages and the administration’s handling of the conflict in Iran as “treasonous.” The investigation unfolded against what current and former officials described as leadership turmoil at the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted or blocked the promotions of at least 80 generals, admirals and senior officials during his tenure, according to the report.
CBS News reported that President Trump was furious about the leaks, and that a very small set of people had access to the classified details on the munitions, raising concern about whether anyone could be acting as a foreign intelligence asset. CBS News also said the FBI was not involved in conducting the tests, and that no one failed the questions meant to determine if these officials leaked to the media, while Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department “does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters” but takes leaks “extremely seriously and investigates accordingly.”
What happens next for the war
The polygraph sweep followed reporting that the conflict against Iran had depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, with investigators specifically seeking to determine how information about the rapid depletion of critical U.S. munitions reached the media, including long-range precision-strike missiles and Patriot air defence interceptors.
CBS News said the polygraph questions delved deeply into various national security-related matters, and that the scope of the testing this summer indicates an investigation, while also noting that not all senior military officials were part of the testing, including Gen. Dan Caine, who was excluded.
The leak probe also intersected with broader Pentagon leak investigations, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in July that the Pentagon and Justice Department had formed a joint task force to identify and prosecute people suspected of leaking sensitive government information to the press.
In a statement to CBS News, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that “Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world,” as the investigation aimed to identify leakers and deter future disclosures during the ongoing war against Iran.