The Trump administration proposed on Tuesday to require federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements, aiming to prevent them from sharing confidential information with journalists.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government’s human resources arm, unveiled a draft non-disclosure agreement intended for use with both new and existing federal employees.
This draft stipulates that the administration could pursue civil and criminal penalties against employees who breach the agreement.
Furthermore, the U.S. government would be entitled to any “royalties” an employee receives from disclosures violating the agreement, according to the draft. The OPM did not immediately provide further details.
This draft agreement marks the latest move in the president’s broader effort to tighten control over U.S. government workers and the flow of public information.
“This move is rooted in concerns that unauthorized disclosures of sensitive government information are disrupting agency operations and eroding trust across government,” stated OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover in an email to Reuters.
Under the proposed terms, former government employees would need “written permission from an authorized agency official” to discuss information deemed “confidential” by the Trump administration with journalists after leaving their positions. Former employees who violate this stipulation could also face civil and criminal penalties, the draft indicates.
Federal law, however, safeguards government workers who report fraud, abuse, and misconduct in their workplaces to internal government watchdogs and Congress, prohibiting retaliation against them.
The draft agreement explicitly states that these non-disclosure provisions would not apply to such protected disclosures.
Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has waged an aggressive campaign against news outlets and media figures he perceives as overly critical. He has initiated lawsuits against news organizations, dismissed coverage as “fake news,” and personally attacked journalists.
His administration notably banned the Associated Press from the White House press pool and restricted reporters’ access at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. military, among other actions.
