What limited federal protections may apply if an employee refuses a lie detector test?

Short answer

For a covered private employer, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) generally prohibits firing, disciplining, discriminating against, or threatening an employee or prospective employee for refusing a lie detector test. The 2023 statutory text says that an affected employee or prospective employee may maintain a civil action in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction, but government employers are excluded and the Act has exceptions, including limited polygraph requests connected with certain ongoing investigations and certain security or controlled-substance settings. This is only a limited federal overview: it does not determine coverage, an exception, state or local rules, a filing deadline, a court, or an outcome; the 2023 statutory text's currentness as of October 25, 2026 is unresolved. [1] [2] [3] [4]