Top U.S. military officials underwent polygraphs in munitions leak probe, sources say

Several dozen senior U.S. military officials were subjected to polygraph tests in an unusually broad investigation into leaks about the nation’s stockpiles of advanced weapons, according to U.S. officials briefed on the matter.

The testing took place earlier this summer and included officials from U.S. Central Command and other combatant commands. The questions delved deeply into national security matters. Two sources said no one failed the questions designed to determine whether officials had leaked information to the media.

The investigation followed reports by CBS News and other outlets about the rapid pace at which the United States was using some of its most advanced finite munitions weeks into the war. Only a very small group of people had access to the classified details, prompting concern that someone could be acting as a foreign intelligence asset, one source said.

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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. Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world.

President Donald Trump was furious about the leaks, three sources said. Polygraphs often form part of routine testing for senior military and civilian officials, but officials described the number of people brought in this time as extremely rare. Not every senior military leader took the test. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was not polygraphed, a senior Pentagon official said.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to discuss internal personnel or investigative matters. He said, "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. Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world."

In July, Hegseth announced a joint Pentagon and Justice Department task force to identify and prosecute people suspected of leaking sensitive government information to the press. He gave the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel, led by Earl Matthews, broad authority to demand information, records and assistance for leak investigations. Hegseth said, "When a leak of department information occurs today, it's critical that we provide the Department of Justice and other partners in federal law enforcement, including the FBI, with actionable information as quickly as possible."

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When a leak of department information occurs today, it's critical that we provide the Department of Justice and other partners in federal law enforcement, including the FBI, with actionable information as quickly as possible.