WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly ordered more than two dozen members of the Trump administration, including personnel within his own Justice Department, to undergo polygraph examinations. The directive is part of an aggressive effort to identify the sources of persistent leaks emanating from within the White House and the bureau, according to a report from MS NOW on Thursday.
The use of lie detector tests has targeted a wide array of staff, ranging from information technology employees to both current and former members of Patel’s personal security detail. Sources familiar with the situation suggest the director is attempting to expose any potential moles who may have provided sensitive information to the press regarding his leadership style and personal conduct.
The report indicates that Patel may be in a defensive posture regarding his job security. In late 2025, reports surfaced that President Trump and senior White House advisers were privately discussing the possibility of removing Patel from his position. Recent media coverage suggesting that senior administration leaders are questioning his decision-making has reportedly intensified the search for internal whistleblowers.
This is not the first time Patel has utilized broad polygraphing as a management tool. Dozens of agents were reportedly subjected to similar exams several months ago following public reporting about Patel’s request to obtain a firearm. The current wave of testing specifically focuses on staff who accompany the director on his travels or have access to sensitive details concerning his daily schedule and executive decisions.
Internal friction within the FBI has also increased following revelations that Patel ordered a criminal leak investigation into a story published by The Atlantic last month. That article contained allegations regarding Patel’s personal habits, describing him as a heavy drinker whose lifestyle interfered with his morning work schedule. Sources indicated that FBI agents expressed deep concern over opening such a probe, arguing it lacked reasonable justification and could infringe upon First Amendment protections regarding news-gathering activities.
In addition to the leak investigations, the report suggests a growing disconnect between the director and the bureau’s operational wing. Patel has reportedly avoided several meetings with key FBI operational leaders this week, sparking concerns among some staff regarding his ability to manage pressing national security threats and active investigations.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson declined to confirm whether the polygraph exams had been ordered but vigorously disputed claims that Patel was absent from his duties. In a statement, Williamson noted that he had been in the usual operational leader meetings with the director every day this week, labeling reports to the contrary as false.
Williamson further pushed back against the narrative of a department in crisis, stating that the only people in panic are the members of the media pushing false stories. He argued that the press has failed to cover what he described as record-breaking success in crime reduction under Patel’s leadership at the FBI.
Despite the official denials, the reports of aggressive internal surveillance have highlighted a deepening rift between the FBI’s political leadership and its career personnel. The focus on identifying contacts between staff and journalists represents a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to control its internal narrative and stop the flow of information to media outlets.
