Trump Administration Seeks to Tighten Secrecy with New Employee NDAs
The Trump administration has introduced a proposal requiring federal workers to sign non-disclosure agreements, a move aimed at curbing the unauthorized flow of confidential information to the media. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which serves as the government's central human resources body, has opened a public feedback period regarding the creation of a standardized form that individual agencies could choose to implement for both current and incoming staff.
If adopted, these agreements would establish a clear legal boundary, explicitly warning employees that sharing sensitive details with journalists without official authorization could result in termination. This initiative aligns with the administration's broader strategy to tighten oversight of government personnel and exercise greater control over how information is disseminated to the public. While the OPM has yet to provide further clarification, the proposal signals a significant shift toward stricter internal accountability regarding communications with the press.