Pentagon polygraphs dozens of US military staff over media leaks: Report

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports, citing The New York Times, that US investigators have given polygraph tests to about 50 members of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff in connection with unauthorized media leaks. The inquiry reportedly examined whether civilian and military personnel disclosed classified information to reporters, including details about declining US ammunition reserves and broader concerns over weapons stocks.

According to the report, the tests were administered last month after news outlets published stories about shortages of long-range missiles and Patriot air defence interceptors. US officials disputed those accounts, saying the stockpiles were adequate. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell did not comment on the internal probe itself, but said the department treats leaks of national security information very seriously and investigates them.

The Joint Staff, which includes roughly 1,500 to 2,000 military and civilian personnel, helps coordinate strategy, policy and war planning with combat commands. The report says the sweep is unusually broad and has been described by legal and military experts as unprecedented in modern times for the top ranks of the US armed forces.

The article places the leak investigations in a wider atmosphere of tension inside the Pentagon, shaped by repeated pressure from President Donald Trump to crack down on disclosures and by criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership. As background, the report also notes prior internal disputes and other disciplinary actions linked to media coverage of military issues.