Trump administration proposes NDAs for federal employees

The Trump administration has proposed a government-wide nondisclosure agreement for federal employees, a move officials say is intended to safeguard confidential information but that critics warn could stifle legitimate disclosures and intimidate whistleblowers. The Office of Personnel Management released the draft language on Tuesday, opening a 30-day public comment period.

The proposed agreement is designed for use by federal agencies with both new and existing employees. According to the draft notice, its purpose is to document employees' acknowledgment of their existing legal obligations to protect nonpublic, confidential, or proprietary information obtained through their official duties. Officials stated the measure would not create new substantive restrictions and would preserve the rights of whistleblowers to report fraud, waste, and abuse to Congress or inspectors general as protected by federal law.

However, the draft defines confidential information broadly to include internal agency operations, personnel matters, procurement processes, and any sensitive, pre-decisional, or deliberative material not currently public. The proposal notes that violations could lead to...