Kristi Noem, the new Homeland Security secretary, reportedly threatened to give workers in her agency polygraph tests as her department grapples with leaks.
Noem warned employees the tests will help her team root out leakers who have shared immigration enforcement plans, with "deleterious effects," Bloomberg Government reported Tuesday evening.
Noem ordered all polygraph tests administered by the agency to ask respondents about unauthorized communications with reporters and nonprofits, according to the report, which cited to people who were not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.
The news led to swift reaction — including some mockery — on social media.
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"How Stasi of her," chided Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, a group of Anti-Trump Republicans.
The Stasi, officially known as the Ministry for State Security, was the secret police and state security service of East Germany from 1950 to 1990. The agency was among the most feared and hated institutions in the country.
National security attorney Mark S. Zaid wrote on X: "It starts! Anyone from @DHSgov who wants help with their polygraph examinations, just reach out. I have 25+ years experience representing both polygraphers & polygraphees.
And if you want to be a #whistleblower, we're here for you too!"
"Things are going so well for Kristi Noem at DHS that her memo going after leakers with a polygraph has leaked," remarked Alex Howard, former spokesperson at DHS.
