The Trump administration announced a proposed rule requiring all current and future federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements to curb leaks. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a notice seeking comment on a draft NDA, which would document employees' acknowledgment of legal obligations to protect non-public information while preserving lawful disclosures. The proposal follows recent unauthorized disclosures, including information about immigration enforcement actions and a U.S. raid on Venezuela. The NDA could cover unclassified information, and agencies may consider actions for employees who refuse to sign.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 10:22PM he Trump administration wants all current and future federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements , part of a continuing crackdown on leaks to the media.
A proposed notice, announced Tuesday on the Office of Personnel Management website, is expected to be officially published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, seeking comment on a draft NDA to be used by federal agencies for "both new and existing employees.
" "The form is intended to document Federal employees' acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, current legal obligations to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information, created or obtained through their official duties, while expressly preserving the right to make disclosures authorized by law," the notice said. The proposed notice seeks comment on several questions, including whether the NDA should cover only unclassified information and what appropriate actions, if any, agencies should consider for new or current employees who choose not to sign the agreement.
President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. The OPM noted "several recent instances" where internal agency communications related to rulemaking and policy development were disclosed without authorization. It also discussed specific instances in which federal employees at the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security disclosed information about planned immigration enforcement actions without authorization.
In one case, The New York Times and The Washington Post received unauthorized information on the U.S. raid on Venezuela this past January and delayed "publishing what they knew to avoid endangering U.S. troops," the OPM request for comment said. Charles Stadtlander, executive director of Media Relations and Communications for the Times, said in an email that the paper had extensive reporting on operations targeting Venezuela and preparations for land-based military operations.
"Contrary to some claims, however, The Times did not have verified details about the pending operation to capture Maduro or a story prepared, nor did we withhold publication at the request of the Trump administration. " Ferreting out leaks that the administration deems harmful to its messaging has been a priority across multiple agencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
As part of that crackdown, the FBI in January seized the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter, a move that alarmed media organizations and advocates of press freedom. One other notable incident occurred last year when dozens of reporters turned in their access badges at the Pentagon, rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information - classified or otherwise - that had not been approved by Hegseth for release.
Michael L. Vogelsang Jr., an attorney at the Employment Law Group, said he has questions, among them: "What gap is an NDA supposed to fill that doesn't already exist?
" He noted that statutes already exist regarding the leaking of classified and sensitive information. There's also a law passed by Congress, he noted, that prohibits employers from implementing or enforcing an NDA. He said: "So Congress has already said NDAs are a no-go. So how can OPM make a regulation that violates the law?
" The American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement that OPM's proposed rule is part of a continuing effort to silence federal employees. "This proposed NDA is another attempt by the administration to purge the civil service of nonpartisan career employees and replace them with loyalists who won't speak out against waste, fraud, and abuse," Kelley said.
Trump Administration Non-Disclosure Agreements Federal Employees Office Of Personnel Management NDA Leaks Media Confidential Information Unclassified Information FBI Department Of Homeland Security Immigration Enforcement U.S. Raid Venezuela The New York Times The Washington Post
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Administration’s Tariffs Leave Consumers in the LurchThe Trump administration’s tariffs have resulted in companies passing on higher costs to consumers, but no refunds will be passed to them. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that big corporations are profiting from the higher costs but are not passing on savings to consumers. The article concludes that the situation is urgent and needs support from readers to continue operating independently.
Read more »
Trump administration targets alleged Cuba-linked activists in foreign influence probeThe investigations reportedly include subpoenas issued to progressive commentator Hasan Piker and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin.
Read more »
AFGE Blasts Administration’s Proposed NDA Rule as Yet Another Attack on Non-Partisan Federal EmployeesNew rule from Office of Personnel Management would require employees at participating agencies to sign non-disclosure agreements as condition of employment
Read more »
Trump administration proposes NDA requirement for federal workers after leaksTheTrump administration on Tuesday proposed a nondisclosure agreement requirement for federal workers following recent leaks.
Read more »