• While there are limits to how employers can administer lie detection tests, the federal government can administer lie detector tests to contractors and their employees for national defense and security purposes.

In general, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) puts limits on how employers can administer lie detection tests to employees. However, certain government contractors are exempt from the Act’s provisions.

The federal government can administer lie detector tests to contractors and their employees under the Act’s National Defense and Security Exemption.

Under the exemption, the law puts little restriction on how the federal government can use lie detector tests for the previously mentioned national defense and security reasons. The federal government can use any type of lie detector (deceptograph, voice stress analyzer, psychological stress evaluator, or any similar device). The government is not limited to using polygraphs.