White House proposes NDAs for all US federal workers

The Trump administration, through the Office of Personnel Management, has proposed a new guideline requiring all US federal workers to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). This measure aims to prevent employees from speaking to journalists without prior authorization and could lead to legal action against violators. The proposed NDAs would cover a broad range of information, including internal operations and sensitive pre-decisional material, extending to former employees. The administration states the directive is intended to curb unauthorized disclosures that disrupt agency operations and erode trust. This proposal is part of a broader effort by the White House to control information flow, though federal law already prohibits the disclosure of classified information and protects whistleblowers reporting fraud, abuse, and misconduct. The proposal will undergo a 30-day public comment period before potential implementation by individual agencies.

The Trump administration has proposed requiring federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent them from sharing confidential information with journalists. The Office of Personnel Management, the US government's human resources office, released a draft NDA for federal agencies to implement with both new and current employees. This proposed agreement outlines the possibility of pursuing civil and criminal penalties against employees who violate its terms. The administration's stated goal is to deter the leaking of classified information to the press.

The Trump administration, through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is proposing that all current and future federal employees sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of an ongoing effort to curb leaks to the media. The draft NDA aims to ensure employees acknowledge their legal obligations to protect non-public information obtained through their official duties, while preserving rights to make legally authorized disclosures. This initiative follows several instances of unauthorized disclosures, including internal agency communications and information about immigration enforcement actions. The OPM is seeking public comment on the proposed NDA, including questions about its scope and consequences for non-compliance. This move is viewed by some as an attempt to silence federal employees.