White House orders lie detector tests shut down

The White House recently stepped in to stop a series of lie detector tests ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to search for people leaking information to the news media. Knewz.com has learned that the intervention from the White House came in the form of a phone call by an individual close to the administration that ultimately led to halting the polygraph testing initiative.

White House intervenes after Weaver flags lie detector test

According to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter, the intervention came after Patrick Weaver, a senior adviser to Hegseth, raised concerns that he might be forced to take a polygraph test himself. It has been reported that the possibility of being subjected to a polygraph test angered Weaver, who has been viewed as a loyal ally of President Donald Trump and is known for his hardline stance on immigration and close ties to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Before the intervention, several members of the Joint Service Interagency Advisory Group, a team in Hegseth’s front office that was assembled to examine how to counter drug cartels and enhance security on the southern border, had already been subjected to polygraphs, with Hegseth approving the tests based on advice from Tim Parlatore, who has served as his personal attorney and a part-time military aide.

Hegseth threatens lie detector tests against top military officers

Among those tested was Col. Ricky Buria, a Marine officer later appointed as a senior adviser. Officials said Buria’s test results were inconclusive, and he soon submitted retirement paperwork to become a political appointee. According to multiple officials, Hegseth had also threatened to subject top military leaders including Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady and Director of the Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims to polygraph tests. Sims, who was initially considered for promotion to four-star general, was later passed over, despite intervention from Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine and other senior officers.

‘Tremendous upheaval’ in Hegseth’s inner circle

According to reports, the polygraph tests came during a period of significant turmoil in the Defense Secretary’s inner circle including the dismissal of three senior Pentagon appointees — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick — under allegations that they had leaked sensitive information to the press. The aides denied the accusations and said the Pentagon was smearing them without evidence. The investigation into the leak began in March with a memo from Joe Kasper, then Hegseth’s chief of staff, stating that “unauthorized disclosures of national security information” required a “thorough investigation.” Wrote Kasper, “The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy.” He added that the investigation would “culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense” and “include a complete record of unauthorized disclosures within the Department of Defense and recommendations to improve such efforts.”

The ‘Signalgate’ affair

The polygraph controversy unfolded alongside another issue — “Signalgate” — involving an unclassified group chat in which Hegseth and others discussed details of a planned bombing operation against Houthi forces in Yemen. An editor from The Atlantic magazine was accidentally included in the conversation. While administration officials maintained that no classified material was shared, witnesses told investigators the operational plans were pulled from an email marked “SECRET/NOFORN,” a designation that prohibits sharing with foreign nationals and indicates potential harm to national security if disclosed.

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