U.S. government investigators have recently administered polygraph tests to approximately 50 members of the U.S. military’s Joint Staff in an unprecedented effort to identify the source of classified information leaks related to munitions shortages amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The polygraph examinations, conducted in August, targeted both military officers and civilian employees, questioning whether they disclosed sensitive details to journalists, particularly regarding reduced stockpiles of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors.
The Joint Staff, which comprises between 1,500 and 2,000 personnel, is responsible for coordinating military operations, policy, and strategic planning with combatant commanders worldwide. Officials familiar with the inquiry described the extensive use of polygraph tests as both a means to uncover possible leakers and a deterrent against future unauthorized disclosures. According to Rear Adm. Donald J. Guter, a retired Navy judge advocate general, the breadth and seniority of personnel subjected to polygraphs is without precedent in recent U.S. military history.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to comment on specific investigation details but emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting classified national security information. He noted the critical importance of safeguarding sensitive data for the security of U.S. forces deployed globally.
The leak investigation intensifies amid heightened scrutiny of the war with Iran, which has been marked by reports of rapidly depleting munitions inventories. Multiple news outlets have detailed concerns within the administration over the strategic management of the conflict and the challenges posed by diminished warstock supplies.
President Donald Trump has pressured officials to rigorously identify leakers, expressing strong condemnation of media coverage critical of the administration’s handling of the war and related ammunition shortages. The president has characterized such reporting as “treasonous,” fueling an atmosphere of suspicion within the Pentagon.
This climate of distrust has been further shaped by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has overseen significant leadership changes. Since his appointment in early 2025, Hegseth is reported to have obstructed promotions or removed at least 80 senior officers. Multiple leak investigations have taken place during his tenure, partly in response to criticism of his own management, including a 2025 incident involving the unauthorized sharing of sensitive information about operations in Yemen.
Hegseth has not held a Pentagon press briefing on the Iran conflict since early May 2026 and has implemented restrictions on media access at the department. These policies have prompted legal challenges from press organizations. Last month, the Pentagon dismissed the publisher and editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, a military-funded news outlet, following their reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln; the journalists described their firing as retaliatory.
Despite growing controversy and internal unrest, President Trump has publicly supported Hegseth’s leadership, stating that he is performing a “fantastic job.” However, some Republican lawmakers, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have voiced mounting criticism. Tillis recently called for Hegseth’s replacement, condemning what he described as “inept management” and a focus on cultural disputes over the effective administration of national defense and military welfare. Notably, Tillis was among those who initially voted to confirm Hegseth’s appointment.