Leakers Tell New York Times the Pentagon Administered Polygraph Tests in Search for Leakers: Report

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

The Department of Defense subjected approximately 50 members of the Joint Staff to polygraph tests in an effort to find out who has been leaking information to journalists, The New York Times reported on Friday night, citing leakers described as “officials briefed on the move.”

Among the leaks that have drawn the ire of top Pentagon brass are the multiple reports of depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles amid the ongoing Iran war.

Citing the aforementioned officials briefed on the polygraph tests, the Times said the tests were conducted in August after several news organizations reported that the military was running low on key munitions such as long-range precision missiles and Patriot interceptors. The Joint Staff employs between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Times 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.”

“Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world,” he added.

In March of last year, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly threatened to subject employees to polygraph tests after The New York Times, citing two U.S. officials, had reported that the Pentagon was preparing to brief Tesla CEO Elon Musk about China. The following month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hegseth was “rattled” by the leak.

During his search for the leaker, Hegseth erupted at Admiral Christopher Grady, who was then the acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

“I’ll hook you up to a f——-g polygraph!” Hegseth shouted at the admiral, the Journal reported, according to two people familiar with the interaction. Grady was not subjected to a polygraph test at the time.

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