The Trump administration is proposing a sweeping new rule that would require federal employees across the U.S. government to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) aimed at cracking down on leaks and unauthorized disclosures to the media.
The proposal, released Tuesday by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), would create a standardized government-wide NDA covering a broad range of “confidential government information,” including sensitive internal discussions, personnel matters, procurement details, and non-public policy deliberations.
According to the draft notice posted to the Federal Register, the administration argues that unauthorized disclosures have undermined trust within federal agencies and disrupted decision-making processes.
“Such disclosures risk chilling candid interagency feedback, disrupting orderly decision-making, and weakening trust within and among Federal agencies,” the notice states.
The proposed policy would apply to both current and future federal employees, and potentially contractors, though individual agencies would still decide whether to implement the NDA requirement. New employees could be required to sign the agreements during onboarding, while existing workers may be asked to sign them when changing positions or at an agency’s discretion.
Officials say the move is intended to improve consistency across federal agencies and strengthen protections for confidential information. The administration has compared the proposal to confidentiality agreements commonly used in the private sector and noted that similar NDAs already exist in some departments, including the Pentagon.
The draft also cites recent leaks involving immigration operations and other sensitive government activities as part of the justification for tighter controls on information sharing.
Under the proposal, violations could lead to disciplinary action, including termination, as well as possible civil or criminal penalties. However, the draft emphasizes that it does not override existing whistleblower protections. Federal employees would still be allowed to report fraud, abuse, misconduct, or illegal activity to Congress, inspectors general, or through other legally protected channels.
The proposal has already sparked criticism from labor unions, legal experts, and press freedom advocates. The American Federation of Government Employees warned that the policy could intimidate career civil servants and discourage legitimate disclosures in the public interest.
Some critics also argue that the broad language surrounding “confidential” information could create a chilling effect on free speech and may face constitutional challenges under the First Amendment.
The proposal is currently open for a 30-day public comment period before any final rule is adopted. Changes could still be made based on feedback received during the review process.
The NDA initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten control over information flow within the federal government and increase accountability across the federal workforce.
