The Trump administration is proposing a rule that would require all current and future federal employees to sign a government-wide nondisclosure agreement. According to a draft notice posted to the Federal Register by the Office of Personnel Management, the administration believes this move will promote consistency across the government, better protect confidential information, and better inform federal employees of their rights and obligations.
This initiative is part of a continuing crackdown on leaks to the media and the release of unauthorized information, following a number of high-profile leaks in recent months. An OPM spokesperson stated that the move is rooted in concerns that unauthorized disclosures of sensitive government information are disrupting agency operations and eroding trust across the government.
The proposed agreement would ban workers from sharing most information and could prevent former employees from talking to the press without permission. By requiring these agreements, the administration aims to curb the flow of information to journalists and threatens legal action and criminal penalties against employees who leak. This measure could make it easier for the administration to punish government employees who provide information to reporters.