50 US Military Personnel Face Lie-Detector Tests In Leak Hunt — Report

The United States military has subjected about 50 members of its Joint Staff to polygraph examinations as part of an investigation into suspected leaks of classified information to journalists.

The examinations were conducted in August and involved both military officers and civilian employees working with the Joint Staff, which coordinates military operations, policy and war planning with combatant commands around the world.

The investigation focuses particularly on reports concerning the depletion of key weapons stocks during the war with Iran. Media reports had highlighted shortages involving long-range missiles and Patriot air-defence interceptors, prompting concerns within the Pentagon over how sensitive information reached journalists.

Investigators reportedly questioned personnel about whether they had provided unauthorised information to members of the media, including details concerning the condition of the United States military’s ammunition reserves.

The scale of the polygraph exercise has been described by officials as highly unusual. The Joint Staff has between 1,500 and 2,000 military and civilian personnel, meaning the examinations involved a significant number of people within the organisation.

The Pentagon has declined to discuss specific details about the investigation or identify personnel who were tested. A department spokesman said the military takes leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates them accordingly.

The spokesman stressed that protecting classified information is essential to safeguarding the United States and troops deployed around the world.

The leak investigation comes amid scrutiny of US military capabilities following the conflict with Iran in recent weeks. Reports about falling weapons inventories have reportedly raised questions about the pressure placed on American stockpiles.

The investigation is reportedly intended not only to identify those responsible for unauthorised disclosures but also to discourage other officials from leaking classified information.

The use of polygraph tests on a large group of military personnel has attracted attention because of the unusual scale of the exercise.

The development reflects the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten controls over classified information and prevent sensitive national-security details from reaching the media without authorisation.

The Pentagon has maintained that safeguarding classified information remains a critical responsibility, particularly during active military operations and periods of international tension.