What the Pentagon’s Sweeping Polygraph Hunt Has Revealed

“Meetings get smaller and smaller, fewer and fewer people can attend because of concerns that larger groups, you know, might leak,” he says.

Mann adds that a polygraph test is known as an “inconclusive” tool.

“You can game them. You can get false positives,” he says. “So, you certainly won’t necessarily get to the bottom of whatever you’re searching for by running a lot of polygraphs, but it is quite effective as an intimidation tool and as a deterrent against leaks.”

He says that many officials are “still nervous” about doing routine polygraph tests, even if they have “nothing to hide.”

“They know it’s something that you can fail and that can then disrupt your career or suspend your clearance if you can’t pass it, even if it’s just because you were nervous that day,” Mann continues.

He says that this polygraph hunt is a way for Hegseth to test the loyalty of his employees amid pressure over the continuation of efforts in Iran. Just this week, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina urged Trump to replace Hegseth as Defense Secretary.