The White House ordered unprecedented polygraph tests on dozens of senior US military staff in an effort to identify who leaked details about America's Iran war campaign to the press, but news of the secretive testing programme has itself now leaked to the media, according to the New York Times. The episode highlights growing tension inside the Pentagon over leak crackdowns under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and marks the first time such broad, senior-level lie detector testing has been used within the US military.

At least 50 members of the Joint Staff, which numbers between 1,500 and 2,000 officials and is led by General Dan Caine, were tested in August after reports emerged that US weapons stockpiles were running low amid the Middle East conflict. The tests were reportedly intended both to identify leakers and to deter future disclosures. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on the specifics but said leaks of classified information are taken "extremely seriously." Hegseth has separately blocked or delayed promotions for around 80 senior officers and has restricted press access, while President Trump has branded the leak coverage "treasonous" and praised Hegseth's handling of the matter.