DQDude,

The fact that, in the context of a pre-employment polygraph, you were explicitly told that you "failed," and not that you were simply "having trouble" with one or more questions, suggests that your polygrapher was not bluffing. I expect that you will be receiving the DQ letter.

At this point, I think it would be wise to start drafting a letter of appeal disputing the polygraph results and requesting a "re-test." The FBI has become more liberal in granting re-tests, but the results seem to almost always be the same. Indeed, the Bureau's polygraphers cannot afford to be seen reversing very many polygraph decisions: to do so would confirm the unreliability of polygraph screening.

Failing the FBI polygraph can only have an adverse effect on your applications with other federal agencies, especially those that also require pre-employment polygraph screening.