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FBI under pressure: Kash Patel intensifies use of polygraphs to suppress internal dissent

Under Patel and Bongino’s leadership, truth tests and removals at the top are on the rise. Former agents denounce climate of fear and politicisation of the Bureau

Since Kash Patel became director of the FBI last February, the federal agency has unusually intensified its use of lie detectors, traditionally used only in extreme cases to verify staff loyalty or the handling of classified information. This is reported by the New York Times, according to which dozens of officials have been subjected to the test, with questions aimed at identifying any criticism directed at Patel himself.

Among the cases cited is one involving a leak about an unusual request by the director: to obtain a service weapon, even though he is not an operative agent. The incident triggered the use of the polygraph to identify the possible perpetrator.

According to numerous former Bureau officials, this is a repressive and vindictive strategy aimed at eliminating dissent and reinforcing a climate of personal loyalty to the top. ‘An FBI agent’s loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the director,’ said James Davidson, a former agent with 23 years of service.

The effect has been an exodus at the top: about 40% of field office agents have resigned, been removed or transferred. Many feared retaliation from Patel and Dan Bongino, deputy director of the Bureau, especially for conducting investigations unwelcome to the entourage of former President Trump, now back in the White House.

A prime example is Michael Feinberg, former head of the Norfolk (Virginia) office, who resigned after being threatened with a polygraph test linked to his friendship with Peter Strzok, the former agent fired for anti-Trump messages and involved in the Russiagate investigation. Feinberg publicly denounced the “cultural revolution” climate that he claims is sweeping the FBI, where, according to him, competence and professionalism are being sacrificed on the altar of ideology.

Although polygraph tests are not considered reliable by the courts, they remain powerful tools in the hands of intelligence agency leaders. In this case, their aggressive use by the FBI is interpreted as an alarming sign of an authoritarian drift and an increasingly politicised management of national security.

A first public report on these practices is expected in the coming months from congressional oversight committees, while discontent grows among agents and former officials.

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