Many publicly available sources reveal the true purpose of the polygraph in the federal security clearance process. I have included links from different search engines that return results from declassified government polygraph policies and procedure documents and helpful posts from Clearance Jobs that provide insight into why the polygraph is used. This will help you to prepare for reconsidering taking the polygraph entirely. 


A Sampling of Results from Boolean Operators, Mathematical Operators, and Phrases 

Boolean Operators 

 
1.      CIA AND purpose of federal polygraph

a.      Google:
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP66B00403R000100380002-6.pdf
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP77M00144R000800130001-2.pdf
•      https://sgp.fas.org/othergov/polygraph/ota/appb.html
•      https://www.afio.com/publications/SULLIVAN_CIA_and_the_Polygraph_from_AFIO_INTEL...
•      https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2006/05/01/polygraph-results-oft...
•      https://quo-vademus.org/the-lasso-of-truth-the-american-national-security-workfo...

b.      Yahoo 
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp66b00403r000100380003-5
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83B00823R000100150003-8.pdf
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp85b00263r000100240011-9
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2017/07/03/will-get-cia-employment-offer-rescinde...

c.      Bing 

•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp85b00263r000100240011-9
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp66b00403r000100380004-4
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83B00823R000100150003-8.pdf
•      https://www.afio.com/publications/SULLIVAN_CIA_and_the_Polygraph_from_AFIO_INTEL...
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp87s00869r000600080003-0
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/08/25/how-to-prepare-for-a-security-clearanc...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2017/07/03/will-get-cia-employment-offer-rescinde...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2021/11/07/decoding-the-polygraph-two-ways-to-fai...
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP66B00403R000100380002-6.pdf

d.      Mojeek 
•      https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2018/06/19/wikileaks-cia-vault-7-leak-and-child-p...
•      https://www.veracitypolygraph.com/why-are-polygraphs
•      https://grassodefense.com/the-questionable-history-and-use-of-the-polygraph/
•      https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-07-24/use-and-possible-misuse-polygraph...

2.      DEA AND polygraph purpose
3.      Confessions AND clearance polygraph
4.      Disqualifying admissions AND federal polygraph
5.      Tom Mauriello AND polygraph 

 
Mathematical Operators 

1.      +polygraph +clearance +purpose

a.      Google
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://antipolygraph.org/documents/security-clearances.shtml

b.      Yahoo
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/521045p.pdf?ver=2...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/12/13/the-elusive-but-definite-monetary-valu...
•      https://www.intel.gov/articles/1163-icd-704-personnel-security
•      https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICPG/icpg_704_4.pdf

c.      Bing
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/06/11/the-four-cardinal-rules-for-taking-a-p...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2021/11/07/decoding-the-polygraph-two-ways-to-fai...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2022/06/12/the-three-ways-to-fail-a-polygraph/
•      https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/521045p.pdf?ver=2...
•      https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICPG/02-25-20_ODNI_ICPG_IC_Personnel_Securit...
•      https://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml

d.      Mojeek 
•      https://axeligence.com/ts-sci-clearance-with-a-polygraph/
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/did-my-polygraph-examiner-go-too-far-tri...
•      https://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml
•      https://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml#interrogation
•      https://antipolygraph.org/documents/ncca-interview-interrogation.pdf

2.      +polygraph +disqualifying admissions 
3.      +polygraph +clearance +why 
4.      +federal polygraph +purpose
5.      +government polygraph +clearance +purpose 

Search Terms that are Phrases 

1.      Polygraph ADJ admissions 
2.      Federal Polygraph NEAR purpose
3.      “Polygraph admissions” 
4.      Why NEAR Government NEAR Polygraph 
a.      Google
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://www.vox.com/2014/8/14/5999119/polygraphs-lie-detectors-do-they-work
•      https://sgp.fas.org/crs/intel/RL31988.pdf
•      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6654171/
•      https://www.cbsnews.com/news/not-close-enough-for-government-work/
•      https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhscbppia-064-credibility-assessment-and-polygra...

b.      Yahoo
•      https://renosf.org/book/use-of-polygraphs-by-the-federal-government

c.      Bing 
•      https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/attachments/2020/12/21/2009...
•      https://renosf.org/book/use-of-polygraphs-by-the-federal-government

d.      Mojeek
•      https://antipolygraph.org/faq.shtml
•      https://science.slashdot.org/story/10/06/13/2049211/The-Truth-About-the-Polygrap...


General Keyword Searches

Microsoft Bing 
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/08/25/how-to-prepare-for-a-security-clearanc...
•      https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICPG/icpg_704_4.pdf
•      https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/520002p.pdf?ver=2...
•      https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/experts-doubt-claim-of-truthful-polygrap...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2022/06/12/the-three-ways-to-fail-a-polygraph/

Google
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://www.govexec.com/management/2018/12/what-you-need-know-taking-polygraph/1...
•      https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-259-polygraphs-gene...
•      https://www.dcsecurityclearanceconsultants.com/polygraphs-background-investigati...
•      https://oig.justice.gov/reports/plus/e0608/intro.htm
•      https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10420/chapter/13#277
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP66B00403R000100380002-6.pdf
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96M01138R001200020020-3.pdf
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP77M00144R000800130001-2.pdf
•      https://irp.fas.org/nro/ig-polygraph.pdf
•      https://www.vox.com/2014/8/14/5999119/polygraphs-lie-detectors-do-they-work
•      https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-095.pdf
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2023/08/25/inconsistent-polygraph-policies-at-dea...
•      https://dbknews.com/0999/12/31/arc-i42yzlfze5b5jcgdut2oogb624/
•      https://oig.justice.gov/reports/plus/e0608/final.pdf
•      https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Mga/2017/oig-17-99-ma-080417....
•      https://www.google.com/search?q=john+sullivan+polygraph+purpose&client=safari&sc...
•      https://sgp.fas.org/othergov/polygraph/dod-poly.pdf
•      https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10420/chapter/9#179
•      https://www.thedailybeast.com/on-polygraph-tests-would-be-border-patrol-agents-c...
•      https://axeligence.com/ts-sci-clearance-with-a-polygraph/

Mojeek
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://www.securityclearanceblog.com/2012/05/security-clearance-issues-with-res...
•      https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/did-my-polygraph-examiner-go-too-far-tri...
•      https://polygraph.org/docs/federal-polygraph-handbook-02-10-2006_2_0.pdf

Yahoo
•      https://www.govexec.com/management/2018/12/what-you-need-know-taking-polygraph/1...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/08/25/how-to-prepare-for-a-security-clearanc...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2022/01/20/need-to-get-a-polygraph-how-to-make-su...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2022/06/12/the-three-ways-to-fail-a-polygraph/
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/10/01/the-shocking-secret-behind-polygraph-e...
•      https://thecrimereport.org/2019/09/19/how-lie-detector-tests-can-damage-u-s-nati...
•      https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/why-do-we-still-believe-in-po...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2014/09/12/real-purpose-security-clearance-polygr...
•      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp66b00403r000100380004-4
•      https://oig.justice.gov/reports/plus/e0608/intro.htm
•      https://www.fedcas.com/preparing-for-a-polygraph-exam/
•      https://bannedfromintel.wordpress.com/2020/10/17/misleading-polygraph-info-on-cl...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/10/01/the-shocking-secret-behind-polygraph-e...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2023/04/30/your-polygraph-exam-is-not-a-confessio...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/06/11/the-four-cardinal-rules-for-taking-a-p...
•      https://news.clearancejobs.com/2021/11/07/decoding-the-polygraph-two-ways-to-fai...