US government investigators in August subjected around 50 officers and civilian employees of the US Armed Forces’ Joint Staff to polygraph tests over leaks of classified information to the media about dwindling stocks of key munitions amid the war with Iran.
According to the newspaper, investigators were trying to determine whether military and civilian personnel had passed classified information to journalists and whether they had disclosed details about the reduction in US ammunition stockpiles.
This includes, in particular, long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors.
Sources cited by the NYT say the conspicuous use of polygraph tests may have been intended not only to identify potential sources of leaks, but also to intimidate other employees who might pass information to journalists in future.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department does not comment on internal personnel matters or individual investigations.
“The Pentagon does not comment on internal personnel matters or matters related to investigations, but it takes extremely seriously any leaks of classified information relating to national security and conducts appropriate investigations.”
He also stressed that protecting classified information is critical to the security of the United States and of its forces deployed around the world.
The Joint Staff, which co-ordinates operations, military policy and war plans with combatant commanders around the world, employs roughly 1,500–2,000 officers and civilian officials.
The NYT notes that the scale of the current screening is unprecedented in modern US military history.
Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Donald J. Guter said: “I have never seen the polygraph used so broadly or at such a high level. In my experience, this is unprecedented.”
US President Donald Trump has put pressure on officials, urging them to actively hunt for people who pass information to the media. He has also described as “treasonous” reports that criticised the administration’s approach to the war with Iran and said there was an ammunition shortage.
Against the backdrop of the Pentagon investigations, an atmosphere of mistrust has intensified. According to current and former officials, it is also being fuelled by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Since the start of last year, the Pentagon has launched a series of leak investigations following media reports about the activities of its leadership.
- Hegseth himself previously came under criticism over the disclosure of confidential details about strikes in Yemen in a Signal chat.