FBI Under Patel Expands Polygraph Loyalty Tests Amid Staff Exodus

Since Kash Patel became FBI Director in 2025, the agency has significantly increased its use of polygraph tests, expanding their purpose from traditional security screenings to probing employee loyalty and internal dissent. Senior officials have been questioned about whether they spoke negatively about Patel or his deputy Dan Bongino, reflecting a broader crackdown on leaks and criticism within the bureau. This approach has sparked concern among former FBI agents and officials, who argue that loyalty should be to the Constitution rather than to individual leaders, and have described the polygraph use as politically motivated and damaging to bureau culture. The intensified loyalty tests coincide with a notable exodus of experienced personnel, with many leaving or being reassigned amid an atmosphere requiring personal allegiance to Patel and Bongino. While polygraphs are commonly used for background checks, their current deployment to enforce ideological conformity and track leaks has fostered mistrust and fear of career repercussions among FBI staff. Patel's sensitivity to his public image, including his pursuit of defamation lawsuits, underscores the growing internal tensions within the bureau under his leadership.