The Trump administration has proposed that all current and future federal employees sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of efforts to reduce leaks to the media. A notice announced on Tuesday by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is expected to be published in the Federal Register, inviting comments on a draft NDA intended for use by federal agencies for both new and existing employees. The NDA aims to ensure that federal employees acknowledge their legal obligations to protect non-public and confidential information obtained through their official duties, while still allowing for legally authorized disclosures.
The OPM's notice raises questions about whether the NDA should apply only to unclassified information and what actions should be taken regarding employees who refuse to sign. The OPM cited several recent instances of unauthorized disclosures, including cases involving the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. In one instance, The New York Times and The Washington Post received unauthorized information about a U.S. raid in Venezuela but delayed publication to avoid endangering U.S. troops.
The administration's efforts to address leaks have included significant actions, such as the FBI seizing the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter, which raised concerns among media organizations. The American Federation of Government Employees has criticized the proposed NDA, claiming it is an attempt to silence federal employees and replace nonpartisan career staff with loyalists.
