The Trump White House has reportedly ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to halt the use of polygraph tests aimed at catching internal leakers, following a complaint from one of his own advisers.
According to The Washington Post, Patrick Weaver, a longtime Trump ally and current adviser to Hegseth, raised concerns this spring about potentially being forced to take a lie detector test. Shortly afterward, the White House intervened via a phone call from an unnamed individual close to the administration.
Lie Detectors Used to Stop Media Leaks
Hegseth’s office began administering polygraphs in April, targeting individuals within his immediate circle, including members of the Joint Service Interagency Advisory Group (JSIAG). The group had been working on strategies to combat drug cartels and bolster border security.
The tests were reportedly approved by Hegseth and guided by Tim Parlatore, Hegseth’s private attorney and part-time military aide.
Before the White House stepped in, multiple polygraphs had already been administered.
Weaver: Trump Loyalist, Immigration Hardliner
Weaver previously served on the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security under Trump. He is closely associated with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and is known for his hardline immigration stance.
Despite being viewed as a loyalist, Weaver raised alarms about the internal polygraph crackdown, prompting the White House to act.
Pentagon Pushback
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell slammed The Washington Post’s reporting.
“The Fake News Media’s obsession with months old workplace gossip is a reflection of the sad and pathetic state of ‘journalism’ in Washington,” Parnell said.
Leakers Already Fired — But Leaks Continue
Hegseth fired three aides in April for leaking to the media: Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll. However, the leaks continued.
In March, the Pentagon launched a formal investigation into “unauthorized disclosures” of national security information. Around the same time, then-Chief of Staff Joe Kasper warned that personnel may be subject to polygraph testing.
“Recent unauthorized disclosures… demand immediate and thorough investigation,” Kasper wrote in a memo.
