Trump officials are using polygraph tests to flush out even minor leaks

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 23, 2025 3:33 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - When reports surfaced in the media that the federal government’s personnel office was planning to hire a driver to ferry around agency directors, officials quickly launched an investigation to find out who was leaking to the press, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Hiring a driver at the Office of Personnel Management hardly qualified as classified or top secret information: one official at the agency quipped to a colleague in a message seen by Reuters that the information would have needed to be made public eventually to advertise the position. But the plans to hire a driver - first reported by Reuters - proved awkward for OPM and the White House at a time when the agency was spearheading efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to slash the federal workforce, cutting hundreds of its own employees.

The incident underscores President Donald Trump's determination to crack down on leaks to the press, even those involving unclassified information or the everyday workings of the government. Reuters spoke to nine current and former federal government employees under the current administration who described a concerted effort to expose leaks of all kinds.

The investigations have a dual purpose - plugging leaks while also purging federal employees considered disloyal to Trump's political agenda, four of the government employees said. “President Trump has made it clear he will not tolerate federal government employees leaking to the fake news media. This is common sense," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Reuters.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/with-polygraphs-probes-trump-administration-chases-even-minor-leaks-2025-05-23/

[RockRaven]

1. They are, in fact, not doing so. Because polygraphs are bunk.

Whatever they "find" or "prove" via polygraph is whatever they have decided by other means.

Because polygraphs are bunk.

And they always have been.

[fujiyamasan]

2. I think they'll use these to purge anyone they deem "deep state"

Anyone I sufficiently loyal. These polygraphs are just a pretense. They just need a reason and “proof”. Voila.

[Irish_Dem]

3. It's all psychological intimidation.

Terrorizing employees into submission and warning others to be 100% loyal at all times.

[Martin68]

4. This is good news. It will create fear, paranoia, in-fighting, and finger-pointing within the Trump administration.

Guaranteed to lower morale and erode efficiency (if there was any efficiency to begin with).

[malthaussen]

5. One of the characters in the novel "Snow Crash" worked for the Feds and was required to take a polygraph a week...

... even though anyone familiar with polygraphs knows they are almost useless. It's another in the endless series of controlling actions which authoritarians love to practice.

-- Mal