Pentagon: Confidentiality Agreements and Lie Detectors for Staff

The Pentagon is planning to impose strict confidentiality agreements (NDAs) and random lie detector tests for dozens of personnel in the U.S. armed forces, including top officers and political staff.

According to The Washington Post, this move is seen as an escalation in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's “war” on leaks.

All members of the armed forces, political employees, and contractors in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff, estimated to be over 5,000 people, will be required to sign an NDA that prohibits the disclosure of non-public information without approval.

A separate document will establish a program of random polygraph tests for these officials. The documents do not set a limit as to who will be subject to the agreements and checks, suggesting that they could include everyone from four-star generals to administrative assistants.

Former national security officials and lawyers have pointed out that there are already restrictions and sanctions for unauthorized disclosure of information, suggesting that the new measures are further aimed at intimidating and deterring personnel.

Patrick Weaver, a political advisor to Hegseth, expressed concerns to the White House about the possibility of him and his team being subjected to polygraph testing.

The proposed NDA prohibits staff from providing any non-public information “without approval or outside of a defined process.”