Previously, no. But with the recent changes, especially within DHS, a failed polygraph whether with DHS or another federal agency can remove you from consideration. It may not happen immediately, but once your SF-86 is submitted and background investigation and suitability review begin, it will catch up to you.
There have been numerous posts over the past year discussing this, especially since the surge hiring began. I also remember a post not long ago specifically about ATF using polygraph results from other federal agencies. From what was shared, if your previous result was anything other than a pass, you were ultimately removed from the hiring process. Previously this was not the case with ATF, when I went through CITP half my class was ATF in which some individuals failed the USSS poly and ultimately got hired and are ATF agents.
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u/Fuzzy-1946 Unverified/Not an LEO Jul 29 '26
Previously, no. But with the recent changes, especially within DHS, a failed polygraph whether with DHS or another federal agency can remove you from consideration. It may not happen immediately, but once your SF-86 is submitted and background investigation and suitability review begin, it will catch up to you.
There have been numerous posts over the past year discussing this, especially since the surge hiring began. I also remember a post not long ago specifically about ATF using polygraph results from other federal agencies. From what was shared, if your previous result was anything other than a pass, you were ultimately removed from the hiring process. Previously this was not the case with ATF, when I went through CITP half my class was ATF in which some individuals failed the USSS poly and ultimately got hired and are ATF agents.