Noem's Homeland Security 'unapologetic' about using lie-detector test on suspected intel leakers

The Department of Homeland Security is "unapologetic" astir utilizing lie-detector tests connected staffers arsenic it aims to snuff retired "leakers" who provender interior bureau accusation to the public, Fox News Digital learned. 

"Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is unapologetic astir its efforts to basal retired leakers that undermine nationalist security," Tricia McLaughlin, DHS' adjunct caput for nationalist affairs, told Fox News Digital Monday. "We are agnostic astir your standing, tenure, governmental assignment oregon presumption arsenic a vocation civilian servant – we volition way down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest grade of the law." 

McLaughlin's effect follows Politico's Friday reporting that the section had administered a prevarication detector trial successful March to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Chief Cameron Hamilton pursuing a gathering betwixt DHS and an advisor to President Donald Trump, Corey Lewandowski. 

The trial yet cleared Hamilton, according to the outlet, arsenic officials worked to find if accusation from the gathering had been leaked. The gathering reportedly focused connected Trump medication efforts to "eliminate" FEMA – an bureau Trump repeatedly has railed against for not doing its occupation successful efficaciously aiding citizens during disasters. 

DHS SAYS IT 'CAN, SHOULD AND WILL' ADMINISTER POLYGRAPH EXAMS AMID ICE RAID LOCATION LEAKS

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visits the Mariposa Port of Entry, Saturday, March 15, 2025, successful Nogales, Arizona. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

The usage of polygraph tests astatine quality and nationalist information agencies is not new, with the FBI, CIA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives each utilizing polygraph tests arsenic portion of inheritance and information checks for imaginable agents oregon investigators, respective bureau websites show. 

The FBI reported that successful summation to a agelong past of utilizing polygraph machines to surface imaginable hires, the bureau has progressively utilized lie-detector tests connected staffers who grip delicate accusation since 2001, erstwhile the FBI arrested 1 of its own, erstwhile cause Robert Hanssen, for spying for Russia. 

The Pentagon additionally announced successful March that it was launching an probe into alleged leaks of accusation concerning nationalist security, which could see polygraph tests for employees successful the Defense Department, Fox Digital antecedently reported. 

DHS had antecedently vowed it would usage polygraph tests to weed retired staffers who leaked accusation connected migration raids, citing that the section is simply a "national information agency."

"The Department of Homeland Security is simply a nationalist information agency," McLaughlin posted to X successful effect to a connection from February that DHS planned to polygraph staffers who whitethorn person leaked information. "We can, should, and volition polygraph personnel." 

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Secretary Kristi Noem issued an interior directive successful February explaining polygraphs administered by DHS indispensable see a question astir unauthorized connection with media outlets and nonprofits, according to a study by Bloomberg Government.

The section already uses polygraph exams during the hiring process of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents. (Getty images)

Border czar Tom Homan speculated successful February that an interior leak tipped disconnected amerciable immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids successful Colorado and California. The leaked intel allegedly allowed Tren de Aragua pack members to evade apprehension astatine the time.

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The section already uses polygraph exams during the hiring process of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents successful bid to find "suitability for employment" and "in enactment of interior and counterintelligence investigations," according to the agency's website.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a circuit of the Terrorist Confinement Center successful Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

"The national authorities uses the polygraph exam to recognize an applicants’ past behavior, idiosyncratic connections and idiosyncratic integrity," DHS said connected a web leafage explaining wherefore it administers polygraph exams to CBP applicants. "Almost each Border Patrol Agent, Customs and Border Protection Officer, and Air and Marine Operations Agent who has joined CBP has taken, and passed, a Polygraph Exam."  

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Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this article.