AGENCIES HELD FREE TO APPLY POLYGRAPH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100020130-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 130
• Publication Date: March 1, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100020130-5
ARTICLE APPEAR_"~-`-
pN PAGE A -_2
WASHINGTON TIMES
1 March 1984
Agencies
held free
to apply
polygraph
GTON TOM Emery
VAS TAFF
The temporary suspension of a Rea-
gan administration proposal to subject
government workers to increased lie de-
tector testing and censorship does not
preclude federal agencies from acting
independently to screen prospective
employees by =use of polygraphs, ac-
cording to congressional sources.
It also does not prevent agency em-
ployees from being subjected to lifetime
censorship if they handle classified in-
formation, the sources say.
White House officials announced last
week that the two controversial provi-
sions were being "held in abeyance" un-
"tli"further notice"
But congressional sources .say that,
although the Feb. 17 memorandum
from National Security Adviser Wil-
liam C. McFarlane suspending the pro-
visions frees federal agencies from the
obligation of developing such reg-
ulations, it does.not preclude agencies
from proceeding on their own.
"The president's directive said that
all the agencies have to develop these
policies on polygraphs and pre-pub.
lication review rights - that it was a
mandatory thing, something they must
do. Now, because of this so-called sus-
pension, they don't have to develop these
policies, but it doesn't mean that they
can't or that they won't:' said a House
staffer.
The directive has been a target in
Congress since it was signed by Pres-
ident Reagan last March, and at least
one bill has been introduced to prevent
it from becoming effective.
In testimony yesterday before Con-
gress, critics railed against the direc-
tive and urged speedy passage of a: bill
introduced by Rep. Jack Brooks, D-
Zexas, to block the measure. The sus-
pension of the two provisions, they ar-
gued, was only a temporary measure,
and implementation of the directive
eventually could lead to widespread
screening of government employees
through polygraph testing.
Although lie detectors have long been
used to screen prospective employees of
intelligence agencies and for criminal
investigations, the president's directive
seeks "to broaden somewhat the use.-..
of polygraphs in the investigations of
leaks of classified information"
throughout the government, said acting
Assistant Attorney General Richard K.
Willard, the principal architect of the
directive.
Defense Department officials testi-
fied before the House.Civil Service sub-
committee that proposed changes in
that agency's polygraph program,
which would greatly expand the use of
lie detector testing of its employees,
were still under active consideration.
Congress has placed a ban on any such
changes until after April 15.
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100020130-5