FBI Under Scrutiny for Using Polygraph Tests to Probe Internal Dissent: NYT Report
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly broadened its use of polygraph tests beyond national security vetting to probe internal dissent and perceived disloyalty.
The report claims that under the leadership of Director Kash Patel, several senior FBI employees were subjected to lie detector tests that included questions about whether they had spoken negatively about Patel himself—raising concerns about potential misuse of internal security procedures to suppress criticism.
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, the FBI has undergone sweeping personnel changes. Appointees such as Patel and Dan Bongino have led efforts to restructure the bureau, resulting in the sidelining or removal of numerous high-ranking officials. The NYT notes that many of these individuals had previously worked on politically sensitive investigations, including those involving Trump or his allies.
Some agents were reportedly placed on administrative leave or forced out, while others resigned voluntarily, fearing retaliation over their prior involvement in probes disapproved of by the current leadership.
Former agent James Davidson, who served in the FBI for over two decades, told the Times: “An FBI employee’s loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the director or deputy director.” He added, “It says everything about Patel’s weak constitution that this is even on his radar.”
The report also highlighted that nearly 40% of top agents in FBI field offices have been reassigned, removed, or retired since the administration change. One such agent, Michael Feinberg, formerly of the Norfolk field office, claimed he was threatened with a polygraph test due to his association with Peter Strzok, the ex-official involved in the Trump-Russia investigation. Feinberg chose to resign before undergoing the test.
Writing in Lawfare, Feinberg accused the FBI’s new leadership of prioritising ideological conformity over professional expertise. “Under Patel and Bongino, subject matter expertise and operational competence are readily sacrificed for ideological purity and the ceaseless politicization of the workforce,” he wrote.
The expanded use of polygraphs and the nature of the questioning have sparked broader concerns about transparency, morale, and political influence within the FBI.
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