US investigators subjected about 50 members of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff to polygraph tests in August as part of an expanded hunt for leaks about the war with Iran and dwindling American weapons stocks.
The examinations targeted military officers and civilian employees who were questioned about whether they had disclosed classified information to journalists, including reports that supplies of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors had been sharply reduced.
The scale and seniority of the operation appear to be highly unusual. Retired Rear Admiral Donald Guter, a former Navy judge advocate general, said he had never seen polygraph testing used so broadly among senior military personnel.
The tests came after a series of reports about the pace at which the United States was using sophisticated munitions during the conflict. Other reporting has described warnings from military leaders that a prolonged campaign could weaken American capabilities in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/30/military-leaders-warn-hegseth-against-extending-iran-war-operations//))
Officials told CBS News that several dozen people, including some personnel linked to US Central Command and other combatant commands, were tested earlier this summer. No one failed questions specifically intended to establish whether they had leaked information to the media, according to two sources briefed on the matter. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-military-officials-polygraphs-leaks-pentagon-weapons-hegseth-trump/))
Not all senior commanders were included. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was not subjected to a polygraph, a senior Pentagon official said.
Expanded Pentagon leak investigation
The Pentagon declined to discuss individual personnel or investigative matters but said it treated unauthorised disclosures of classified national security information as a serious issue.
“Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.
In July, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon and the Justice Department had created a joint task force to identify and prosecute people suspected of leaking sensitive government information to the press. The initiative gave the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel broad powers to demand records and assistance from officials involved in leak inquiries. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-military-officials-polygraphs-leaks-pentagon-weapons-hegseth-trump/))
The latest testing has intensified concerns inside the Pentagon about an atmosphere of suspicion under Mr Hegseth, who has faced criticism over leadership turmoil and restrictions on journalists’ access to the department.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked reports about American munitions shortages and described leaks concerning the handling of the Iran war as “treasonous”. The administration has denied that the US lacks the weapons required to conduct military operations, while independent reporting has indicated that supplies of interceptors and long-range missiles have come under severe strain. ([theatlantic.com](https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/08/shortage-weapons-shaping-war-iran/688201/?utm_source=apple_news))
The FBI was not involved in the polygraph examinations, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The military has its own investigators and the Defence Secretary has authority to direct counter-intelligence inquiries that may include polygraph testing, subject to federal safeguards and Pentagon regulations. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-military-officials-polygraphs-leaks-pentagon-weapons-hegseth-trump/))
