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The Pentagon has subjected roughly 50 members of the military’s Joint Staff to polygraph tests as investigators search for the source of leaks to journalists about the war with Iran and declining U.S. weapons stockpiles, an unusually broad effort that has intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s approach to classified information.
The tests were conducted in August and focused on military officers and civilian employees who were questioned about whether they had provided classified information to members of the news media, including information about reduced stocks of long-range missiles and Patriot air-defense interceptors, according to officials briefed on the investigation.
The Joint Staff includes between 1,500 and 2,000 military and civilian personnel and works with combatant commands to coordinate military operations, policy and war planning. Not every senior official was tested. CBS News reported that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine was not among those subjected to polygraph examinations.
Pentagon defends leak investigation
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to discuss the internal investigation but defended the department’s efforts to protect classified information.
“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,” Parnell said.
He added that protecting classified information is essential to the security of the United States and American troops.
The investigation followed a series of reports describing the pace at which the United States has been using sophisticated munitions during the Iran war. Reports about depleted stocks have included long-range missiles and defensive interceptors, raising questions about how quickly some weapons can be replaced and how long existing inventories can sustain combat operations.
The Pentagon and Trump administration have disputed broader claims that the United States is running out of weapons, while acknowledging that some advanced systems are more limited than others.
Unusual scope raises questions
The breadth of the polygraph operation has drawn attention from former military officials.
Retired Rear Adm. Donald J. Guter, who served as the Navy’s judge advocate general, told The New York Times that he had never seen polygraph testing conducted this broadly or at such a senior level.
Investigators’ efforts appear intended not only to identify potential sources of unauthorized disclosures but also to discourage other personnel from providing sensitive information to journalists, according to officials familiar with the effort.
Hegseth expands Pentagon leak crackdown
The polygraph tests are part of a broader effort under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to investigate unauthorized disclosures.
CBS News reported that 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.
The administration’s approach has unfolded amid growing tensions between the Pentagon and journalists. Hegseth has faced criticism over restrictions on media access, while the department has continued investigating disclosures involving sensitive military operations and policy.
The Pentagon has also experienced significant turnover among senior military leaders during Hegseth’s tenure. The New York Times reported this month that Hegseth had fired or blocked the promotions of more than 80 generals and admirals.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has become one of Hegseth’s most prominent congressional critics. After Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation, Tillis called Hegseth’s management of the military “inept” and urged President Donald Trump to replace him.
Trump backs Hegseth
Trump has continued to support Hegseth despite the criticism. The president has described the defense secretary’s performance favorably, while the administration has maintained that its policies are intended to strengthen military readiness and protect national security.
The leak investigation comes as the administration faces competing demands: protecting classified information that could provide adversaries with insight into U.S. military capabilities while maintaining transparency about a war that has placed significant demands on American forces and weapons inventories.
For now, the Pentagon has not publicly identified anyone suspected of leaking the information, and officials have not announced disciplinary or criminal charges resulting from the polygraph investigation.
