The Pentagon has employed a sweeping polygraph investigation in its hunt for individuals leaking classified information, a tactic described as uncommon in its sheer scale by officials familiar with the effort. The testing appears intended not only to identify a specific leaker but also to deter future unauthorized disclosures to the media.
While polygraphs are not unprecedented in government leak investigations, the extensive nature of this particular inquiry marks a notable escalation. Experts suggest this reflects the Defense Department's willingness to utilize broad measures to stem the flow of sensitive material.
David Pozen, a law professor at Columbia University, noted that task forces have periodically recommended that the White House implement more concerted steps to facilitate leak investigations. These recommendations have included regularizing the use of polygraphs and requiring government employees to provide advance notice and summaries of discussions with the press. Such measures were notably implemented during the Reagan administration in 1983, when President Reagan authorized polygraph testing in investigations of unauthorized classified disclosures, though he barred agencies from solely using the results for disciplinary actions.
The current extensive use of polygraphs underscores a significant effort by the Defense Department to control the dissemination of classified information and deter officials from engaging in such disclosures in the future.