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.
And this week on Face the Nation: There are new signs of resiliency in the job market, but prices remain high.
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prices → be → market
As Americans hit the roads and skies before the end of summer, gasoline prices are at the highest ever for a Labor Day weekend.
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prices → hit → weekend
One major factor behind elevated prices, the war with Iran, which flared up again last week.
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which → flare → Iran
What could that conflict, plus a new landmark U.S. oil deal with Venezuela, mean for consumers in the U.S.?
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conflict → mean → U.S.
We will ask Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who's just back from Caracas.
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who → ask → Caracas
Plus, as Republicans begin to make their case to fall voters at their first ever GOP midterm convention, we will hear from the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain, and the co- chair of the GOP midterm convention, businessman and Sunoco chairman Ray Washburne.
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we → begin → convention
Democrats plan to counter that convention to make their case.
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Democrats → plan → case
But what do they plan to do about affordability?
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they → plan → affordability
We will talk with Colorado Democrat Jason Crow and Michigan gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson.
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We → talk → Crow
There is breaking news today from Ukraine, where, after 19 months in office, President Trump has finally sent his top foreign policy envoys to visit.
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Trump → be → envoys
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv earlier in an attempt to end the now-5.5-year long war with Russia.
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Witkoff → arrive → Russia
Their trip comes after months of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas for the envoys to visit.
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envoys → come → pleas
Vladimir Putin said he rejected Zelenskyy's suggestion of a cease-fire, but both leaders agreed to temporarily halt attacks on the capital cities to allow for the envoys to visit.
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envoys → say → cities
Here at home, Americans are enjoying their last unofficial weekend of summer.
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Americans → enjoy → summer
But with the midterm elections now less than two months away, voters want answers on when the price of gas and other goods will go down.
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price → want → gas
We begin today with the U.S. secretary of energy, Chris Wright, who joins us from Denver.
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who → begin → Denver
Mr. Secretary, it is Labor Day, and Secretary Bessent had predicted we'd see $3 gas by September 20, depending on the Iran talks.
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we → predict → talks
Do you think we're going to be back at three bucks in the next two weeks?
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we → think → weeks
CHRIS WRIGHT (U.S. Energy Secretary): Well, we've passed peak demand time with Labor Day tomorrow, the end of the summer driving season.
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we → pass → season
And the Trump administration a couple weeks ago rolled out a change in regulations that'll allow American refiners to produce more gasoline and diesel with their existing equipment.
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refiners → roll → equipment
So, seeing demand likely go down in the next few weeks and supply going up, I think prices headed downward is - - is not an unreasonable expectation.
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prices → see → weeks
What about the diesel fuel that trucks and trains rely so heavily on?
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trucks → rely → that
We saw that record high price of $5.89 a gallon this week.
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We → see → 5.89
You want to keep as much energy flowing as possible.
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energy → want → ?
The diesel situation has been challenging because Russian refineries have suffered significant damage.
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refineries → suffer → damage
Russia used to be a meaningful exporter of diesel.
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Russia → use → diesel
Today – today, they don't export any diesel, and, in fact, they've become a meaningful importer of gasoline.
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they → export → gasoline
And this is – for 17 years, Democrat policies have been attack hydrocarbons, get as many refineries and coal plants closed.
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refineries → get → years
You could summarize their energy and climate policies in two words, expensive energy.
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You → summarize → words
President Trump has swum against that tide.
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Trump → swim → tide
Well, you could also say Russia shouldn't have invaded Ukraine, and then they're – they'd still be able to export.
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they → say → Ukraine
But to the point of what you're going to do about it, are you looking at an export ban?
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you → go → ban
We consider all options of how you can move prices that are favorable for American consumers, but, right now, we're leaning in on maximum production, energy addition, again, in gasoline, in diesel, in the electricity sector.
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we → consider → sector
The way to solve a supply shortage is to grow supply.
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way → solve → supply
I want to ask you about Iran.
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I → want → Iran
You were on another network this morning, and you said the U.S. may not reach a nuclear deal with this current Iranian government and may have to wait for a new regime.
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U.S. → say → regime
If that is the current assessment, should the American people prepare themselves that the new normal will be these, for example, strikes like we saw just two days ago on Iranian oil tankers?
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we → prepare → tankers
Are you shutting down diplomatic outreach?
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you → shut → outreach
That's President Trump's goal is always to have a negotiated settlement and not use a military solution unless absolutely necessary.
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's → have → solution
But the biggest role of our military in the region right now is to stop the export of any Iranian crude or crude-related products, natural gas, whatever.
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role → stop → crude
…and 390 more, not listed.
