Not backing down…
Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem strongly defended the department’s use of lie-detector tests on staffers as it aims to weed out “leakers” who feed internal agency information to the public.
“Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is unapologetic about its efforts to root out leakers that undermine national security,” Tricia McLaughlin, DHS’ assistant secretary for public affairs, told Fox News Digital Monday. “We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment or status as a career civil servant – we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to a recent Politico report, the department had administered a lie detector test in March to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Chief Cameron Hamilton following a meeting between DHS and Trump adviser, Corey Lewandowski.
Politico reported that Hamilton passed the test as officials worked to determine if information from the meeting had been leaked. The meeting reportedly focused on Trump administration efforts to “eliminate” FEMA – an agency Trump repeatedly has railed against for not doing its job in effectively aiding citizens during disasters.
The use of polygraph tests at intelligence and national security agencies is not new, with the FBI, CIA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all using polygraph tests as part of background and security checks for potential agents or investigators, respective agency websites show. (RELATED: DHS Secretary Vows To Prosecute Leakers)
DHS had previously vowed it would use polygraph tests to weed out staffers who leaked information on immigration raids, citing that the department is a “national security agency.”
“The Department of Homeland Security is a national security agency,” McLaughlin posted to X in response to a message from February that DHS planned to polygraph staffers who may have leaked information. “We can, should, and will polygraph personnel.”
The FBI reported that in addition to a long history of using polygraph machines to screen potential hires, the bureau has increasingly used lie-detector tests on staffers who handle sensitive information since 2001, when the FBI arrested one of its own, former agent Robert Hanssen, for spying for Russia.
Border czar Tom Homan speculated in February that an internal leak tipped off illegal immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Colorado and California. The leaked intel allegedly allowed Tren de Aragua gang members to evade arrest at the time.
Homan has been vocal about the dangers of leaks, emphasizing both operational setbacks and risks to law enforcement officers.
“It’s just not giving the bad guys a heads-up so they can escape apprehension,” he said. “You’re putting officers’ lives at risk. It’s only a matter of time before we walk into a place where there’s going to be a bad guy [who] doesn’t care. He’s going to be sitting in wait to ambush an officer. This is not a game.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made a firm commitment to prosecute any government officials found leaking sensitive information related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. During her first press conference, Bondi emphasized that leaks undermine the safety of officers.
“The great men and women in law enforcement… deserve, they must be protected, and anytime anyone leaks or tips off anything regarding a pending investigation that jeopardizes lives, we will not stand for it,” she said. Bondi confirmed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had an ongoing investigation into the matter, but did not reveal specifics. She assured that once the leakers are identified, they will face prosecution and severe consequences, including potential criminal charges and job loss.
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