DHS Secretary Noem Implements Polygraphs to Combat Leaks Within Agency

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Feb. 18, 2025, that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin using polygraph tests to address unauthorized leaks within the agency. This decision follows allegations that such leaks have adversely impacted immigration enforcement operations, particularly in Colorado and California.

In an internal memo revealed to Bloomberg Government, Noem instructed that all polygraph examinations administered by DHS must include questions regarding unauthorized communications with media and nonprofit organizations. She cited the “deleterious effects” of these leaks on both border and interior immigration enforcement strategies.

“DHS is a national security agency,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated in an email. “As such, it should and will polygraph personnel.” The DHS’s main user of polygraphs is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is mandated to utilize these tests for all law enforcement positions.

Noem’s directive is part of a comprehensive effort by DHS to curb external communications from employees amid significant policy changes following President Donald Trump‘s inauguration last month. In a related move, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also implemented a new policy, requiring employees to obtain prior permission from senior officials before engaging with the media.

Critics have raised concerns about the reliability of polygraph tests, noting that their results are often deemed inadmissible in legal contexts. Some Republican lawmakers have even proposed eliminating the polygraph requirement for Border Patrol applicants due to a notably high failure rate associated with the tests.

“Our priority remains the safety and security of the nation,” Noem added in her memo. “We must ensure that our personnel are not jeopardizing our missions through unauthorized communications.”

The recent push towards polygraph testing reflects a tightening grip on communications within the DHS as the agency navigates challenges both in personnel and policy.