America's Federal Agency Under Fire? Lie Detector Tests Of FBI Agents Raise Questions About Loyalty And Politics In US | DNA Decodes

According to reports, the polygraph tests of FBI agents are not limited to a few individuals. Instead, their use within the agency has increased drastically in recent weeks. While the agency traditionally uses polygraph tests only in cases involving treason or national security leaks, the current situation marks a sharp deviation.

Photos Credit: @ZeeNews/ X

A storm is allegedly brewing inside America’s most powerful investigative agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In a surprising development, several FBI officers are reportedly being subjected to polygraph tests, commonly known as lie detector tests, under the direction of Kash Patel, a close aide of United States President Donald Trump. The reason is reportedly being done to test their loyalty.

According to reports, the polygraph tests are not limited to a few individuals. Instead, their use within the agency has increased drastically in recent weeks. While the FBI traditionally uses polygraph tests only in cases involving treason or national security leaks, the current situation marks a sharp deviation. In today’s DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analysed why America's FBI agents are being subjected to lie detector tests: 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNAWithRahulSinha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNAWithRahulSinha</a> | अमेरिका में FBI का &#39;लाइ डिटेक्टर टेस्ट&#39;... क्या ट्रंप की &#39;खुफिया एजेंसी&#39; ही खतरे में है?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DonaldTrump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulSinhaTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulSinhaTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/ukzjIyqbrV">pic.twitter.com/ukzjIyqbrV</a></p>&mdash; Zee News (@ZeeNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZeeNews/status/1944086914715595204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Officers are now reportedly being asked pointed questions such as: “Have you spoken against Kash Patel?”

This shift indicates that the tests are being used not just to verify facts but to identify officers who may not be loyal to Patel—or, by extension, to Trump. 

The FBI, once hailed as the guardian of American national security, is now seemingly filtering personnel based on political alignment.

Leaks Trigger Crackdown

The polygraph directive comes after multiple internal leaks following Patel’s appointment:

1- Details about Patel’s request for a service weapon, despite not being a sworn FBI agent, were leaked to the media. This move sparked controversy and criticism.

2- Internal decisions, including personnel transfers, were also leaked, further straining internal trust.

3- Donald Trump has frequently claimed that the FBI is part of a “deep state conspiracy” working against him.

In response, Patel appears to be weeding out dissenters and promoting those aligned with Trump’s vision. Loyalty tests, therefore, seem to be a tool in reshaping the agency to reflect that political agenda.

Internal Politics Erode Trust

The politicization of America's top intelligence agency has triggered growing concern. The FBI’s image as a neutral and professional agency may be damaged if officer appointments are based on personal loyalty rather than national duty. The use of intelligence agencies as political tools could also undermine public trust and endanger democratic institutions.

Former FBI agent James Davidson voiced concern, stating: “Loyalty should be to the Constitution, not to the director.”

Wider Impact on American Democracy

This development comes at a time when confidence in US democracy is already shaky. Recent reports highlight a growing number of Americans who believe democracy in the country is no longer functioning effectively. 

Now, the move to install loyalists through polygraph tests is being seen as yet another blow to democratic norms in the United States.

As one of the most respected investigative bodies in the world, the FBI’s integrity has far-reaching implications. The unfolding events raise serious questions: Is the FBI being turned into a political instrument? And what does that mean for the future of impartial law enforcement in America?