FEMA staff face lie detector tests amid DHS leak probe, fears of agency overhaul

Dozens of staffers at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ), including acting administrator Cameron Hamilton , have recently undergone lie detector tests as part of a widening department of homeland security ( DHS ) crackdown on alleged leaks of national security information, according to CNN.

The polygraphs, roughly 50 administered in total, are part of a push by the Trump administration to trace leaks, some of which allegedly revealed internal discussions on plans to dismantle FEMA itself.

According to CNN, Hamilton was tested just days after attending a high-level closed-door meeting with homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and Trump ally Corey Lewandowski about FEMA’s future, including options for scaling back or dissolving the disaster agency altogether.

At least one FEMA official was reportedly placed on administrative leave and escorted out of agency offices following a failed polygraph, as per sources cited by CNN.

However, the move has sparked alarm among federal employees and whistleblower advocates, who argue the polygraphs are being used to suppress dissent and target those not even involved with classified material.

“These employees had no access to classified information,” one FEMA official was cited by CNN. “This is a witch hunt. They are trying to get rid of people and incite fear”, official added.

As per The Mirror, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the polygraphs, saying, “We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment, or status as a career civil servant, we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

McLaughlin confirmed some employees failed the test and may face criminal referrals, but emphasized that Hamilton had cleared his exam and remains in his post.

The use of polygraphs, particularly for those handling mostly non-classified material, has raised questions about legality and due process. Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project was cited by CNN saying the number of tests was “alarming,” noting, “What used to be a sensitive, carefully considered high-risk decision is now a knee-jerk reaction.”

The polygraph sweep comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to overhaul or possibly eliminate FEMA, with secretary Noem reportedly determined to gut the agency, according to The Mirror.

Meetings last month involved discussions about reversing an executive order that created the FEMA Review Council, a move that could open the door to dismantling the agency entirely.

Morale within FEMA is said to be collapsing. Multiple staffers are considering voluntary separation or early retirement following new hiring restrictions and a Deferred Resignation Program that offers buyouts. “You have the potential for a ton of institutional knowledge to walk out the door,” said one official. “And then you have a double whammy if you don’t have enough manpower to meet the mission”, official added.

The reported turmoil comes just weeks before the hurricane season begins. According to CNN, critical preparations were delayed this year as DHS-imposed reviews disrupted planning timelines. “March is typically when we’re finalizing hurricane plans. A lot of that got paused,” one disaster response worker said.

A DHS hiring memo outlined a new policy requiring most of FEMA’s temporary workforce, including CORE staff, Reservists, and Local Hires, to be reapproved by Noem’s team. These workers, many in two- to four-year terms, make up nearly three-quarters of FEMA’s operational force, per the Government Accountability Office.

“They are the backbone of the response,” a FEMA official said. “Instead of prepping for storms, we’re checking renewal dates and justifying our jobs”, official added.

With growing fears that FEMA could be sidelined ahead of a potentially destructive storm season, one official warned, “We won’t really feel the consequences until something big and bad happens.”