00:08An extraordinary leak investigation is now unfolding inside the U.S. military, with government
00:14investigators reportedly turning to mass polygraph tests to hunt down the source of classified
00:20information. According to the New York Times, around 50 high-ranking military officials were
00:26subjected to polygraph examinations in August. The officers and civilian employees were reportedly
00:32drawn from the U.S. military's joint staff. Investigators questioned them over whether
00:38they had leaked sensitive information to journalists. And the focus of the investigation is especially
00:43explosive, because some of the leaked information reportedly involved the availability of critical
00:50American weapons during the war with Iran.
00:52The move marks an unusually aggressive effort to identify who is providing sensitive information
00:59to the press. And according to the report, the tests were not only intended to identify
01:05the leaker, they were also meant to discourage others from speaking out in the future.
01:11The reported investigation comes after a barrage of stories about pressure on America's weapons
01:17stockpiles. Those reports have raised questions over the availability of critical munitions,
01:23including long-range missiles and Patriot air defense interceptors. The concern is straightforward.
01:30A prolonged war consumes weapons at a rapid pace. And replacing sophisticated missiles and
01:36interceptors can take months or even years. The leaked information reportedly provided journalists
01:42with a window into those pressures. Now investigators are trying to determine exactly who disclosed the
01:49information. The Pentagon is refusing to discuss the details. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the
01:56department does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters. But he stressed that all leaks
02:03of classified national security information are taken extremely seriously. He said securing classified
02:10information is critical to protecting the United States and American troops deployed around the world.
02:16The reported crackdown comes as access to information about the Iran war has become increasingly
02:22restricted. Since May 5th, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not held a press briefing specifically addressing
02:30the war. Press access at the Pentagon has also been limited. And last month, the Pentagon fired senior
02:36figures at Stars and Stripes following a dispute over coverage of worsening conditions aboard the USS Abraham
02:44Lincoln. The developments have intensified concerns among journalists and critics about transparency
02:50inside the Defense Department. President Donald Trump has also entered the fight, launching a furious attack
02:58against people warning that America could be running low on weapons. On Thursday, Trump lashed out at unnamed
03:04individuals and organizations, describing them as treasonous scum. He rejected reports that the United States
03:11was running short of ammunition during the Iran war. Trump called those claims 100 percent wrong. He accused
03:19critics and media organizations of wanting the United States to lose the war rather than see his
03:25administration win it. In another post, Trump directly targeted what he called treasonous scum, who
03:32refused to accurately report on the military operation in Iran. He claimed the United States has virtually
03:38unlimited supplies of mid- to high-grade ammunition. Trump also said America has far more weapons than it could
03:47ever use in the current conflict, or in another major war. But the reported leak investigation suggests that
03:54officials inside the military have been discussing a very different set of concerns. The disagreement is now
04:00playing out on two fronts. Inside the Pentagon, investigators are searching for the people who disclosed
04:07sensitive information. Outside it, the administration is fighting a public battle over what those disclosures
04:13reveal about America's military readiness. Trump insists there is no weapons crisis. He says American
04:21production is operating at levels never seen before. The president says the United States is stockpiling
04:27weapons and preparing for any contingency. He also indicated that arms sales to allies could resume
04:34after Washington prioritized supplies for its own forces. But the contrast between those assurances
04:41and the reported leak investigation is striking. The administration is publicly projecting overwhelming
04:48military strength. At the same time, investigators are reportedly examining whether officials disclosed
04:54information about shortages of key weapons systems. Now, 50 senior military officials have reportedly faced
05:02polygraph tests, as investigators search for the source of sensitive Iran war disclosures.
05:08The extraordinary operation highlights just how seriously Washington is treating the leak investigation.
05:15But it also underscores the growing battle over information surrounding the war. The administration says
05:22America has massive weapons reserves and unprecedented production capacity. Reports based on leaked information
05:30have raised concerns about shortages of critical munitions. And the Pentagon is tightening its grip
05:36on classified information while limiting public access.
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