Trump administration wants federal workers to sign NDAs

May 27, 2026

The Trump administration has proposed mandatory non-disclosure agreements for federal government employees, both new hires and current workers, aimed at preventing unauthorized information leaks to media outlets. The Office of Personnel Management claims these NDAs simply document existing legal obligations and preserve whistleblower protections, while citing incidents including alleged leaks about the Venezuela raid and disclosure of ICE agents' personal information as justification. However, legal experts note the agreements appear significantly broader than typical NDAs limited to classified material, potentially exposing them to court challenges.

Who is affected

Current and new federal government workers across all agencies
The American Federation of Government Employees and its members
U.S. military personnel (cited as being at risk from alleged Venezuela raid leaks)
4,500 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents whose personal information was disclosed
Media organizations including The New York Times and The Washington Post
The general public who rely on government transparency

What action is being taken

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has published a draft NDA proposal
The public comment period is open for 30 days for feedback submission
The American Federation of Government Employees is criticizing the proposal

Why it matters

This proposal represents a significant expansion of restrictions on federal employee speech beyond traditional NDAs limited to classified information or specific projects. The agreements could create a chilling effect that prevents employees from exposing unethical, wasteful, or incompetent government behavior, undermining public accountability and transparency. Additionally, the broad language may restrict workers' ability to use their knowledge and skills in future employment, affecting both free speech rights and labor mobility, while potentially conflicting with First Amendment protections that don't disappear upon federal employment.

What's next

The 30-day public comment period must be completed before the agreement can be finalized and deployed
Legal experts expect potential litigation challenging the agreements
Individual agencies will decide whether to require employees to sign the NDAs (though the union predicts OPM will pressure agencies to make them mandatory)

Read full article from source: BBC