The Trump administration proposes non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for federal employees as part of an effort to reduce or prevent what it calls unauthorized disclosures to the media. Multiple outlets report that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released a draft NDA that federal agencies could require staff to sign. The proposal would cover both current and new employees, according to reporting, and is described by officials as a continuing response to a recent pattern of leaks.
According to the draft NDA described in several accounts, employees would be restricted from sharing “confidential government information” and, if they violate the agreement, the government could pursue legal consequences. The Guardian and South China Morning Post also report that the draft includes the possibility of civil and criminal penalties. CBS News and others note that the administration is seeking to formalize this approach government-wide.
Some coverage also highlights backlash, including criticism that the policy could chill employees’ willingness to speak publicly, though details of how the NDAs would interact with other legal protections are not described consistently across outlets. The administration’s next step, reported by several outlets, includes requesting comment on the proposal.
