Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
CBS News national security coordinating producer James LaPorta reports in an article titled, “DNI Tulsi Gabbard orders U.S. intel agency leaders to stem leaks.” Excerpt: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in the last month issued a memo ordering U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct a review of whether random polygraph examinations of their employees or …
On 18 February 2025, Bloomberg Government reporter Ellen M. Gilmer broke the news that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had a week earlier “issued an internal directive that all polygraphs the Department of Homeland Security administers must include a question about unauthorized communications with media and nonprofit organizations, according to a memo …
Alex Horton, Tara Copp, and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post in a 1 October 2025 article titled, “Pentagon plans widespread random polygraphs, NDAs to stanch leaks.” Excerpt: The Pentagon plans to impose strict nondisclosure agreements andrandom polygraph testing for scores of people in its headquarters, including many top officials, according to two people …
The White House has reportedly directed the Department of Defense to stop polygraphing for leakers after Patrick Reed Weaver, a senior advisor to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, raised concerns. Dan Lamothe and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post in an article titled, “Hegseth team told to stop polygraph tests after complaint to White …
New York Times reporter Adam Goldman, following up on his earlier reporting that senior FBI executives were being polygraphed at a “rapid rate,” provides new details about the FBI’s use of polygraphs to go after journalistic sources in a new article titled, “The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ Loyalty.” Excerpt: Typically, the F.B.I. …
Former CIA officer Brian O’Neill has written a cogent and well-researched essay for the non-profit, independent news organization, The Conversation titled, “Trump administration’s lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities.” Excerpt: The Trump administration has recently directed that a new wave of polygraphs be administered …
Journalist Kevin Gosztola spoke with AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke for his Dissenter Update podcast. Their conversation, which addresses topics including the scientific shortcomings of polygraphy, the use of polygraph screening in an attempt to deter whistleblowing, and how federal employees can protect themselves, begins a little past the ten-minute mark:
CNN senior writer Zachary B. Wolf comments on the Trump administration’s use of polygraphs to go after federal employees who speak with journalists. His well-researched article, “The Trump administration revives an old intimidation tactic: the polygraph machine,” was published on 5 June 2025. Excerpt: When President Ronald Reagan’s White House threatened thousands of government officials …
In an article titled “Unease at F.B.I. Intensifies as Patel Ousts Top Officials,” New York Times national security reporter Adam Goldman notes the increased use of polygraphs under FBI Director Kash Patel’s leadership to discourage employees from speaking with journalists. Excerpt: The F.B.I.’s increasingly pervasive use of the polygraph, or a lie-detector test, has only …
Marisa Taylor, Ted Hesson, Alexandra Alper, and Helen Coster report for Reuters in an article titled, “Trump officials are using polygraph tests to flush out even minor leaks.” Their reporting is based on “conversations with nine current and former federal government employees under the current administration who described a concerted effort to expose leaks of …