Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 5: The US government has reportedly subjected around 50 members of the military’s Joint Staff to lie detector tests as investigators search for officials suspected of leaking classified information to journalists, including details about dwindling US ammunition supplies during the war with Iran.
According to The New York Times, military officers and civilian employees were questioned about whether they had disclosed classified information to members of the press and shared details about reduced US munitions stocks.
The polygraph tests were conducted in August following a series of reports about shortages of critical weapons, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors. People familiar with the investigation said the broad testing appeared aimed not only at identifying those who may have leaked information but also at discouraging others from speaking to journalists.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 officers and officials work for the Joint Staff, which coordinates operations, policy and war plans with combatant commanders around the world.
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 accordingly.
“Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world,” he added.
The scale of the investigation is highly unusual, with mass polygraph testing reportedly never having been conducted among the senior ranks of the US military in modern history.
The probe comes as several news organisations have reported on the impact of the Iran war on US weapons stockpiles and concerns within the administration over the strategic direction of the conflict.
President Donald Trump has urged administration officials to aggressively pursue those responsible for leaks. He has also described media coverage critical of the US handling of the Iran war and weapons shortages as “treasonous”.
The investigations have reportedly contributed to an atmosphere of distrust inside the Pentagon. Current and former officials have said the environment has been encouraged by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Since early last year, the Pentagon has also launched several leak investigations following reports about Hegseth’s leadership. This comes despite criticism he faced after allegedly sharing sensitive details about US strikes in Yemen in a Signal group last year.
Last month, the Defence Department fired the publisher and editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, a government-funded news organisation covering the US military. The journalists said they believed the dismissals were retaliation for their reporting on worsening conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Trump has continued to support Hegseth, saying he is doing a “fantastic job”, despite growing concerns over turmoil within the Pentagon.
Some Republicans in Congress have also begun publicly criticising the defence secretary, accusing him of mistreating senior officials.
Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote on social media this week that he had “never witnessed more inept management” of US service members and called on Trump to replace Hegseth.
Tillis also accused Hegseth of being “intimidated by competence” and said he was focusing on culture wars instead of the country’s national defence and the wellbeing of US troops.