Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has directed U.S. intelligence agencies to review the feasibility of instituting random polygraph tests for employees and contractors.  The memo, issued in recent weeks, doesn’t yet mandate implementation; it asks agencies to investigate whether random polygraphs could be used selectively alongside counterintelligence operations.

A key component of the directive is that these polygraph screens would include questions specifically about whether individuals have shared classified or sensitive information with the press.  While questions about leaks already appear in current security‑clearance adjudication, Gabbard’s memo emphasizes expanding such scrutiny.

Officials say the move is part of a broader push to tighten internal controls after a series of leaks and to reinforce discipline across the intelligence community. But the directive is cautious: it does not establish random polygraph testing now nor enforce new policies immediately. Rather, it calls for agency heads to assess how such a regime might be implemented fairly—balancing effectiveness against risks to morale and privacy.

Critics warn that random polygraphs can be intrusive, imprecise, and may chill internal communication or whistleblowing. Supporters argue they could act as a deterrent against unauthorized disclosures.

The findings of the reviews are expected to shape whether the intelligence community formally adopts random polygraph testing in the coming months.