# Secret Service Outsources Polygraph Screenings

The United States Secret Service has initiated contracts valued up to **$20 million** in 2026 with three private polygraph companies to outsource polygraph screening exams for new hires for the first time. This strategic procurement supports an aggressive recruitment campaign aiming to onboard 4,000 new employees ahead of the 2028 election cycle, complementing a separate **$90 million** contract for a national recruitment effort targeting over 40,000 applicants. The outsourcing approach is designed to maintain rigorous vetting standards through contractor training and oversight, enabling the agency to sustain high hiring tempo and manage the psychological and physical challenges inherent in polygraph testing.

- **Why this matters:** This marks a significant shift in Secret Service hiring practices by leveraging private sector capabilities to expand polygraph screening capacity.
- Procurement professionals should note the opportunity for polygraph service providers to engage with federal contracts supporting critical security vetting functions.
- Agencies and contractors can expect continued emphasis on quality control and examiner expertise, highlighting the importance of specialized training and operational knowledge in contract performance.
- The scale and timing of these contracts indicate ongoing demand for recruitment support services aligned with major federal election cycles.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- United States Secret Service (Secret Service)
- General Services Administration (GSA)

### Key Quotes
> It’s a very psychologically challenging test that also brings in physical challenges because of the stress. You can get ready for a physical test, you can get ready for a written test. But there is no way to get ready for a polygraph other than being a complete open book when you go into it. And that’s hard for a lot of people to do.
> — Don Mihalek, Retired Agent

> You need people who really know the job to be a gatekeeper. A polygraph examiner doesn’t just do polygraphs — you do protection, you do investigations, you do all of it. You know the job top to bottom.
> — Anonymous former longtime Secret Service polygraph examiner

> It’s been a needed force multiplier. Without it, we would not be able to maintain our hiring tempo and keep the pipeline of applicants moving through the way we are right now.
> — Matthew Quinn, Deputy Director

### Sources
- [Secret Service Outsources Its Polygraph Screenings for the First Time - The Washington Sun](https://www.notus.org/policy/secret-service-polygraph-screenings) - washingtonsun.com