Pentagon officials are taking a serious stance on leaks that threaten national security with a new investigation that will include lie detector tests. The crackdown comes after fake “leaks” resulted in the New York Times publishing false claims that Elon Musk was set to receive a security briefing on potential war with China.
At a glance:
• Pentagon launching formal investigation into leaks of sensitive information
• Investigation will include polygraph tests to identify responsible parties
• Trump and Musk denied reports about sharing of U.S. war plans with China
• Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissed reports as “fake” with “no war plans”
• Homeland Security also cracking down on leakers with polygraph tests
Pentagon Launches Aggressive Investigation
The Pentagon is launching a sweeping investigation into unauthorized leaks of sensitive information, with polygraph tests as a key component of their strategy. Defense Department Chief of Staff Joe Kasper issued a memo calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the disclosure of sensitive communications.
It seems like they’ve taken a page out of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s book!
The investigation comes after false reports emerged suggesting that Elon Musk would be briefed on U.S. war strategy regarding China. Defense Intelligence will coordinate with federal partners to support the Office of the Secretary of Defense throughout the investigation process.
🇺🇸🤔 Pentagon Launches Internal Investigation into Leaks: Elon Musk’s Visit Under Scrutiny
The U.S. Department of Defense has launched a large-scale internal investigation using polygraph tests in an effort to identify the sources of recent classified information leaks.… pic.twitter.com/8DgiXcO6Jq
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@SavchenkoReview) March 22, 2025
Trump and Musk Refute False Claims
President Donald Trump strongly rejected the reports about Musk being briefed on war plans. Taking to Truth Social, Trump called it an “absolutely ridiculous and false story, which is probably libelous,” and emphasized, “Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!!”
Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth also dismissed the leaked information as fabricated. “The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans, there was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans,” Hegseth stated clearly.
Elon Musk has demanded action against those responsible for leaking false information to the media. The tech billionaire specifically criticized The New York Times for publishing what he considered propaganda and called for prosecution of Pentagon officials who spread misinformation.
Government-Wide Crackdown on Leakers
The Pentagon investigation aims to identify individuals responsible for unauthorized disclosures, with potential criminal prosecution on the table. While polygraph tests are not admissible in court, they have been used by federal agencies for national security clearances and investigations since a 1999 Pentagon report expanded their use. And they have so far proven very useful.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced similar measures within her department to combat information leaks. “We have identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling individuals about our operations and putting law enforcement lives in jeopardy. We plan to prosecute these two individuals and hold them accountable for what they’ve done,” Noem stated.
The Justice Department has also opened a criminal investigation into leaks of classified information related to the Tren de Aragua gang. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized what he called “politically motivated efforts by the Deep State to undercut President Trump’s agenda by leaking false information.”
The investigation will produce a comprehensive report to the Secretary of Defense, including documentation of unauthorized disclosures and recommendations for preventing future security breaches. This aggressive approach demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting classified information and holding leakers accountable.
