The Trump administration is requesting public comment on its proposal to require all current and future federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), intensifying efforts to prevent leaks to the media.
Details of the Proposed NDA
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a notice in the Federal Register on Tuesday, seeking feedback on a draft NDA to be used across federal agencies for both new and existing staff. The notice states that the form is intended to document employees' acknowledgment of and agreement to comply with legal obligations to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information obtained through official duties, while preserving rights to make disclosures authorized by law.
The OPM is seeking input on several questions, including whether the NDA should cover only unclassified information and what actions agencies should consider for employees who decline to sign.
Recent Leak Incidents Cited
The OPM noted several recent instances where internal communications related to rulemaking and policy development were disclosed without authorization. It also highlighted cases at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security where employees leaked information about planned immigration enforcement actions. In one example, the New York Times and Washington Post received unauthorized information about the U.S. raid on Venezuela in January, delaying publication to avoid endangering troops, according to the OPM.
A Washington Post spokesperson declined to comment. Charles Stadtlander of the New York Times said the paper had extensive reporting on operations targeting Venezuela but did not have verified details about the pending operation to capture Maduro, nor did it withhold publication at the administration's request.
Broader Crackdown on Leaks
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, ferreting out leaks deemed harmful to administration messaging has been a priority across multiple agencies. In January, the FBI seized electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter, alarming media organizations and press freedom advocates. Last year, dozens of reporters turned in their Pentagon access badges to protest new rules by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that could leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion for reporting on unauthorized information.
Criticism from Union
American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley criticized the proposal, calling it part of a continuing effort to silence federal employees. “This proposed NDA is another attempt by the administration to purge the civil service of nonpartisan career employees and replace them with loyalists who won’t speak out against waste, fraud, and abuse,” Kelley said in a statement.
