Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, was interviewed on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 6, 2026. The key issue discussed was a leak probe ordered by Secretary Hegseth that has subjected several dozen high-ranking US military officials to polygraph tests. Rep. Crow expressed concerns about the purge of over 80 generals and admirals under Secretary Hegseth's leadership, which he believes is part of an effort to create fear and clamp down on information coming out of the Pentagon. The number of women in the promotion list has also reached a 25-year low under Secretary Hegseth's tenure.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump was furious about leaked information about the US military's munitions stockpiles, and as a result, the Pentagon subjected approximately 50 members of the Joint Staff to polygraph tests in August. The tests were conducted after news reports detailed how the conflict with Iran had strained US supplies of critical munitions, including long-range missiles and Patriot air-defense interceptors.
The investigation was part of a broader effort by the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Justice Department to identify and prosecute people suspected of leaking sensitive government information to the press. No one failed the polygraph test questions intended to pinpoint the leaker, according to multiple sources, including CBS News.
This move has been seen as a show of force aimed at not just ferreting out anyone who may have shared information but also intimidating others who might do so in the future. The Joint Staff is responsible for coordinating operations, policy, and war plans with combatant commanders around the world, with between 1500 to 2000 officers and officials working there.
It's worth noting that polygraph tests are not uncommon in the US government, especially for high-level security clearance holders who could be subject to testing every five to seven years. However, the scale of this investigation is unusual, with multiple sources suggesting it was a response to Trump's personal frustration over the leaked information.
Written for “Pentagon Polygraph Crackdown” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 21 other(s) covering the same event.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 6, 2026.
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that → follow → Sept.
We're joined now by Colorado Democratic Congressman Jason Crow.
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We → join → Crow
It's good to have you here in person.
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So CBS is reporting that several dozen of the highest-ranking officials in the United States military were subjected to polygraph tests as part of the sweeping leak probe that Secretary Hegseth has ordered.
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Hegseth → report → that
This includes combatant commanders.
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This → include → commanders
They're looking for who leaked the highly classified details about the nation's stockpiles of sophisticated weapons.
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who → look → weapons
Has Congress been told anything about the outcome?
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Congress → tell → outcome
I haven't been briefed anything about this.
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We haven't received any information; it's just been public reports.
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it → receive → information
And- and certainly, stopping leaks and protecting classified information is really important.
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stopping → stop → information
And I would always support that.
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I → support → that
The problem is- is the broader context that Pete Hegseth has created here.
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Hegseth → is- → that
He has purged over 80 generals and admirals, the top 10% of the entire military chain of command has been purged.
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% → purge → command
We are at a 25-year low for the number of women on the promotion list, and he's created an environment of fear.
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he → create → fear
He's pushed out journalists.
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He → push → journalists
He's pushed out media.
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This is part of his effort to create fear and to clamp down on information coming out of the Pentagon.
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This → create → Pentagon
I mean, polygraph tests are part of routine cadence, but from what I understand, it's the number, it's the rank of people here.
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it → mean → people
It also seems to confirm the reporting about the problems with America's munitions shortages.
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Well, because they don't- they don't want people to know.
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people → don't- → ?
They don't want people to know what's actually happening.
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what → want → ?
That's why they fired the editor of the Stars and Stripes, an independent newspaper that's been around since 1861 by the way- 1861, it was founded during the Civil War to be an independent media outlet for our service members, so that people would understand what they're going through.
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they → fire → what
This is the broader trend of them not wanting anybody, including members of Congress, to understand what's going on.
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what → want → Congress
Munitions have been depleted.
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Munitions → deplete → ?
The stockpiles are very low, contrary to what Donald Trump wants us to believe.
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us → want → what
These types of precise munitions do not grow on trees.
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types → grow → trees
They take a long time to build up.
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They started this war.
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The president started this war without a plan, without a strategy.
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president → start → strategy
I mean, I just heard your prior guest, Secretary Wright, talk about numbers and barrels, and- and that's all tactical discussion, right?
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that → mean → numbers
There's no longer-term plan for how we get out of this and how we normalize the markets and how we drive down prices for Americans.
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we → be → Americans
Speaking of the region, one of the other things we're looking at is the 50,000 personnel the U.S. keeps currently in the region.
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U.S. → speak → region
The Navy's Fifth Fleet is headquartered in the country of Bahrain.
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Fleet → headquarter → Bahrain
The Chief of Naval Operations held a town hall this past week.
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A sailor asked about like, when can I go back and get all my gear, and he said, "We're not getting back in there anytime soon.
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We → ask → gear
I just want to be completely honest about that."
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I → want → that
Should we understand that as saying the U.S. is withdrawing or drawing down personnel from- from the Gulf?
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U.S. → understand → Gulf
REP. CROW: I- I have for a long time thought that we need to draw down our forces generally in the Middle East.
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we → think → East
We need to get out of endless conflict in the Middle East.
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Donald Trump campaigned on this, by the way.
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…and 56 more, not listed.
