The Pentagon has been leaking like a sieve lately, particularly around the matter of depleted weapons stockpiles, and now the Hegseth regime is on a hunt for the leakers. According to a widely circulated report posted by The New York Times on Friday evening, Sept. 4, government investigators have subjected some 50 members of the Joint Staff to lie detector tests in an attempt to track down the leakers. “The investigators asked military officers and civilian employees on the Joint Staff if they disclosed classified information to members of the press, and about whether they provided information about diminished U.S. munitions stocks,” the Times reported. It added: “The show of force appeared aimed at not just ferreting out anyone who may have shared information, but intimidating others who might do so in the future, according to people with knowledge of the effort.”
The scope of the investigation is without parallel, the Times says. Mass polygraph tests have never been administered to the top ranks of the U.S. military in modern history. “I’ve never seen polygraphs employed this broadly or at this seniority level,” said Rear Adm. Donald J. Guter, a retired top judge advocate general for the Navy from 2000 to 2002. “In my experience, it’s unprecedented.”
“The leaks have intensified an atmosphere of deep distrust and paranoia inside the Pentagon, one that current and former officials say has been fostered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,” the Times report continues. “Surrounded by a tight inner circle of loyalists, Mr. Hegseth has pushed out or blocked the promotions of at least 80 generals, admirals and other officials during his tenure. Since early last year, the Pentagon has been conducting a number of leak investigations in response to news coverage about his leadership, even as he faced criticism for sharing sensitive details about strikes in Yemen in a Signal group last year.”
