White House Halts Hegseth’s Use of Polygraphs in Leak Probe
(MENAFN) The White House intervened to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of polygraph tests in a leak investigation after a top adviser raised concerns about being personally targeted, media reported Saturday.
According to the report, senior adviser Patrick Weaver voiced objections to the White House this spring over fears that Hegseth’s team might order him to undergo a polygraph. Weaver, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, was reportedly incensed by the possibility.
The internal pushback prompted a call from someone with close ties to the Trump administration, effectively halting the controversial effort. The move came shortly after Hegseth’s team began administering polygraph tests to staff in April.
Before the White House stepped in, Hegseth had already greenlit a series of polygraph tests over several weeks. Those tested included Special Operations personnel and FBI agents serving under his Joint Service Interagency Advisory Group.
Media noted that Col. Ricky Buria—who would later become one of Hegseth’s senior advisers—took a polygraph that yielded inconclusive results. He retired from the Marine Corps in April to assume a political appointment.
Hegseth also reportedly threatened to subject senior officers to the tests, including Navy Adm. Christopher Grady and Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims. Hegseth blocked Sims’ promotion to four-star general despite support from the Pentagon—an action that angered colleagues who viewed Sims as nonpartisan and qualified.
The polygraph testing unfolded during a period of upheaval in April, when Hegseth fired three senior Pentagon aides over suspected leaks. The accused aides denied the allegations and labeled them slander.
The leak probe was set in motion after a memo from then-chief of staff Joe Kasper called for a “thorough investigation” into unauthorized disclosures.
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