PRESIDENT DELAYS POLYGRAPH ORDER AIMED AT LEAKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100020138-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 138
• Publication Date: February 16, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100020138-7
ARTICLE APPEARED WALL SThl;?J 7J J UUttNAL
ON PAGE-Z4 _ 16 February 199
President Delays
Polygraph Order
Aimed at Leaks
By OWAL STREETJOURNAL.StaffReporter
WASHINGTON-President Reagan has
decided to delay carrying out orders calling
for the broad use of polygraph tests and life-
long censorship of government employees.
Larry Speakes, White House deputy press
secretary, said the president has held up the
two provisions, designed to deter leaks of se-
cret data, while the administration discusses
a compromise with members of Congress.
Administration officials met to discuss
the controversial orders late last month. Ac-
cording to one official present, the group
was worried that the orders would hurt the
president's image and draw stiff congres-
sional opposition in an election year.
Late last year, Congress barred the ad-
ministration from carrying out the direc-
tives through March 15. Despite the admin-
istration's concerns, congressional support-
ers of that ban were unsure they would be
able to renew it.
The directive most bitterly opposed by
civil libertarians was the lifelong-censorship
order. It would have required that 127,000
current federal employees with access to
highly classified data pledge to submit for
censorship any writings on.intelligence oper-
ations or classified data. A much smaller
number of officials currently is subject to
such restraints.
Critics said the expanded censorship
would have a chilling effect oh commentary
by former officials who might disagree with
policies of the administration in power at
the time. They also questioned the need for
a lifelong restriction, as studies have found
only a few examples of sensitive information
leaks from former officials. Richard Wil-
lard, a Justice Department official who
helped write the president's original order,
has conceded that the "most serious prob-
lem" is leaks by employees who haven't left
the government.
The polygraph provision would have en-
couraged agencies to use the lie detector to
track down persons who leaked data and to
screen government employees who have ac-
cess to secrets. It also would repeal a policy
that generally prevents agencies from pen-
alizing employees who refuse to take poly-
graph tests. The Central Intelligence Agency
and National Security Agency have been ex-
ceptions to that policy, and both regularly
use polygraphs on employees.
Under the Carter administration, Justice
Department employees were exposed to the
threat of "adverse inferences" being drawn
against them if they refused to take poly-
graph exams in probes of leaks. But officials
say the department hasn't ever acted on
that threat, largely because it lacked confi-
dence in the polygraph's accuracy.
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100020138-7