US investigators polygraph 50 military officials over classified leaks: Report
US government investigators administered polygraph tests to about 50 high-ranking military officials and civilian employees in August as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information to journalists, The New York Times reported.
The officials, associated with the US Military’s Joint Staff, were reportedly questioned about whether they had disclosed sensitive information to journalists. The investigation followed a series of reports about shortages of critical weapons, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors, during the Iran war.
According to the report, investigators used the polygraph tests both to identify the source of the leaks and to discourage other officials from disclosing sensitive information in the future. The mass testing is reportedly unprecedented in modern US history.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but takes leaks of classified national security information “extremely seriously” and investigates them. He said protecting classified information was critical to the security of the US and its troops deployed worldwide.
The investigation comes as the Pentagon has tightened media access. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has not held a press briefing on the Iran war since May 5 and has restricted press access at the Pentagon.
Last month, the Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte following a dispute over the newspaper’s coverage of conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
US President Donald Trump has also rejected reports of weapons shortages. In posts on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump called those making such claims “treasonous scum” and said the US had “virtually unlimited” amounts of ammunition.
Trump said the US was producing munitions at a level “never seen before” and was stockpiling weapons for potential contingencies. He also said arms sales to allies would resume soon.