FBI, national security agencies in US use polygraph to track down 'leak': Report

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) — National security agencies in the United States have intensified efforts to track suspected information leaks under President Donald Trump administration, using polygraph tests to identify sources, American media reported, citing serving current and former officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has begun administering polygraphs to identify the source of information leaks at the direction of its Director Kash Patel, the Washington Post reported, citing an FBI spokesperson, who added that the new use of polygraphs at the bureau, also known as "lie detector" tests, has not been previously reported.

The seriousness of the specific leaks in question precipitated the polygraphs, as they involved potential damage to security protocols at the bureau, the spokesperson was quoted by the daily, who declined to provide further details.

The move coincides with new legal guidelines issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi that allow the Department of Justice to subpoena journalists' personal communications.

The guidelines broaden the scope of criminal investigations to include leaks of not only classified information, but also “privileged and other sensitive” material, the administration claims, was designed to sow chaos and distrust in government institutions, the Washington Post added.

Officials warned that the expanded rules could cover disclosures merely seen as embarrassing or critical of the administration.

People are trying to keep their heads down, a former head of an FBI field office told the daily on condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also threatened to use polygraphs, ordering lie detector tests for some senior department officials, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The reports said the measures have created widespread fear among officials, with some refusing to engage with the media even while still on government payrolls.

Contractors with security clearances have also become more cautious, worried about potential questions during future polygraph tests about contacts with journalists.

Describing the environment as "toxic," one official with a top-secret clearance said: “First, you’ve got the insecurity of not knowing whether you’re going to get fired or not.

"Then there’s the witch hunt to find the whistleblowers who are exposing the ineptitude and bad management of agencies. They’re trying to silence those who do not follow the party line.”

This official, along with others, highlighted the firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh, who led the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command until earlier this month, as well as the departures and early retirements of numerous seasoned personnel from the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency.

The employees caution that such moves could leave critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks from Russian, Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian hackers.

"Then there’s the witch hunt to find the whistleblowers who are exposing the ineptitude and bad management of agencies. They’re trying to silence those who do not follow the party line.”

The same official and others pointed to the recent firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh, who led the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command until earlier this month, as well as the departures and early retirements of seasoned staff at the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency.

Haugh, whose dismissal was not explained, was reportedly fired by Trump for being "disloyal," according to Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who had urged Trump to remove him during an unusually direct White House meeting. The decision sparked strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has been shaken by the forced departures of several of Hegseth's senior aides, reportedly due to leaks to the media that displeased him and involved "sensitive communications" with high-ranking defense officials.

The combination of dismissals, leak probes, and polygraph threats has heightened anxiety among government employees.

"People are terrified," said a former senior intelligence community lawyer who handled leak investigations during Barack Obama's administration.

"The difference today is (that) they are not looking only for people leaking classified information.

“They are looking for people leaking negative information, which is not necessarily against the law,” the former official stated, referring to information the administration considers embarrassing or that contradicts its narrative.

Separately, dozens of veteran staff members at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently left the agency, accepting buyouts or early retirements, the report said.

“There’s definitely a culture of fear that there will be personal retribution if they’re seen as in any way shining a light on, or sharing details about, what’s happening in the organization — not even sharing classified information,” a former official explained.