The Trump administration announced plans on May 26, 2026, to introduce governmentwide nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) aimed at preventing leaks of sensitive government information. A draft notice submitted to the Federal Register by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) states that the proposed NDA policy would promote consistency across government and better protect confidential information while informing federal employees of their rights and obligations regarding such information.
The notice is expected to be published on May 27, 2026, and will be open for a 30-day public comment period. The proposal defines "Confidential Government Information" broadly, including non-public, confidential, or proprietary information related to internal agency operations, personnel matters, procurement processes, and sensitive material not publicly available.
OPM cited recent leaks that endangered military operations and federal employees, including unauthorized disclosures about a U.S. raid on Venezuela and the leak of personal information belonging to approximately 4,500 Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees. OPM believes that a standardized NDA form would help protect confidential information and clarify federal workers’ responsibilities regarding nondisclosure.
The NDA would be optional, allowing agencies to decide whether to require employees to sign it. If adopted, it would be administered to new hires during the onboarding process and to current federal employees. The draft warns that refusal to sign the NDA could result in removal from federal service and potential debarment for not certifying compliance with nondisclosure obligations.
The proposed NDA has faced criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees, which condemned it as an attempt to undermine nonpartisan civil service employees.
