Trump Administration Proposes NDAs for All Federal Workers

Proposal for Government-Wide NDAs

The Trump administration has proposed a government-wide nondisclosure agreement (NDA) that would require all federal employees to sign, according to multiple reports. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a draft of the NDA on Tuesday, which is designed for federal agencies to implement with both new and existing staff.

The administration is currently requesting comment on these plans. The initiative is part of a broader effort to crack down on what the administration characterizes as the release of "unauthorized information".

Objectives and Scope

The primary goal of the proposed rule is to curb the flow of information from within the federal government to journalists and media organizations. The White House stated that the agreement is intended to curtail the sharing of "confidential government information" to stop internal leaks.

According to reports, the proposed rule would expand the use of nondisclosure agreements that have already been instituted at the Pentagon and other specific agencies to the entirety of the federal workforce. The administration has threatened legal action against employees who violate these terms and leak information.

Context and Implementation

The move comes as part of a continuing focus by the Trump administration on addressing press leaks. The draft NDA released by the OPM provides a template that federal agencies could use to ensure employees are legally bound to secrecy regarding government operations.

Some reports indicate that the move places additional constraints on a federal workforce that has already been targeted by the current administration. The proposal would apply to both current employees and future hires entering federal service.