• The Trump administration proposes non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for all federal employees.
• The move aims to combat unauthorized disclosures that have posed risks to national security.
• Critics warn the NDAs could infringe on free speech and whistleblower protections.
• The public will have 30 days to comment on the draft rule once published.
• Legal actions could be taken against employees who violate the proposed agreements.

The Trump administration is advancing a controversial policy requiring all current and future federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) aimed at curbing leaks to the press. The proposal, issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), seeks to address concerns over unauthorized disclosures that have jeopardized national security, notably regarding immigration enforcement and a military raid in Venezuela, which the administration claims put lives at risk, according to Los Angeles Times, NPR, and BBC.

The proposed NDAs would not impose new restrictions on employee speech, OPM asserts, but rather standardize how employees acknowledge their obligations to protect confidential information. However, critics argue that the language in the agreements appears overly broad and may chill free speech among federal employees, which could dissuade them from reporting abuse or misconduct under the Whistleblower Protection Act. Ray Limon, a former federal employees' attorney, expressed concern, stating, "This seems to be a new add-on that seems to be very, very broad in nature," according to NPR and Al Jazeera.

The administration has invited public commentary on the draft rule for a limited period of 30 days following its official release in the Federal Register. The rule will allow agencies to decide on the implementation of the NDAs but could become mandatory across federal agencies as the Trump administration is expected to exert pressure to enforce the agreements uniformly. This has already drawn significant backlash from federal employee unions and civil liberties advocates, with concerns that the NDAs could lead to retaliatory actions against those who refuse to sign them, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover highlighted that unauthorized disclosures have "disrupted agency operations and eroded trust" among federal workers, yet the new policy raises fears about hindering transparency and accountability within the government. The proposed NDAs would also reportedly extend legal liabilities for unauthorized disclosures to former employees, complicating their future communications about sensitive matters, as reported by Los Angeles Times and BBC.