Certainly not joe shmoe polygraph examiners, but I was under the impression that the NSA examiners are sworn federal law enforcement officers.

Now that I say that, though, I can't find a reference to support this.

NSA polygraph operators are not law enforcement officers. Lying to them is nonetheless a violation of 18 USC 1001. However, I am not aware of any case where anyone has been criminally prosecuted for lying during an NSA polygraph interrogation.

Wait, it’s illegal to lie to federal LEOs?

It's illegal to lie to the Federal Government period:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1001

More precisely, it's a violation of 18 USC 1001 to lie about "any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States" (with a couple of specific exceptions as given). Technically you don't even have to lie to a Federal official since the statute doesn't specify that; it just has to be a matter "within the jurisdiction" of the Federal government.

Keep in mind, however, that this is not reciprocal: The Federal government can lie to you with impunity.

I like to call this the "Martha Stewart Rule"

https://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/how-to-avo...