The Trump administration is moving forward with a proposal that would allow federal agencies to use standardized nondisclosure agreements with employees as part of a broader effort to stop internal government leaks.
The proposal is being advanced through the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s main human resources agency.
OPM Director Scott Kupor said the plan is going through the full regulatory process, meaning the public will have a chance to submit comments before it is finalized.
The proposed policy would create a template NDA that federal agencies could use with employees.
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Administration officials say the agreement would not create new speech restrictions, but would require workers to acknowledge existing confidentiality rules that already apply to sensitive government information.
Kupor said the goal is to protect internal conversations so officials can speak honestly during meetings without fearing that deliberations will immediately appear in the press.
He argued that agencies cannot function properly if employees leave private discussions and leak the details to reporters.
The proposal comes as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on leaks following several high-profile incidents, including reports about sensitive operations and the doxing of ICE agents.
Supporters of the plan say federal agencies need stronger tools to protect confidential discussions and prevent politically motivated leaks.
Critics argue the move could discourage employees from speaking out about government misconduct or sharing information of public concern.
Some federal employment experts have warned that OPM may be centralizing too much power over the federal workforce and that the policy could chill employee speech.
The proposal states that employees would still retain legal protections for authorized disclosures, including whistleblower complaints and reports to inspectors general.
Kupor said the administration is not trying to stop workers from raising lawful concerns.
He said the issue is whether employees should be able to publish or leak private deliberative conversations from inside government meetings.
The administration argues that employees will still be able to use existing legal channels if they believe wrongdoing has occurred.
Kupor also said the policy would not remove employees’ rights to appeal workplace actions through existing civil service procedures.
The proposal is likely to face legal scrutiny from unions, watchdog groups and organizations already challenging other Trump administration workforce policies.
The public comment period remains open until June 26.
If finalized, the policy could become one of the administration’s most significant efforts to reshape federal workplace rules and reduce internal leaks.
Why It Matters
The NDA proposal could change how federal employees handle internal conversations and sensitive information. Supporters see it as a way to protect government decision-making, while critics worry it could discourage whistleblowers and make agencies less transparent.
What Comes Next
OPM will collect public comments through June 26 before deciding whether to finalize the policy. Legal challenges are likely if critics argue the plan interferes with employee speech, whistleblower protections or civil service rights.
OPM Director Scott Kupor said the proposed NDA policy is meant to prevent leaks of sensitive internal information while preserving lawful whistleblower protections.
WATCH: Director @skupor spoke to @AshleyJDiMella @foxnews about OPM’s proposed NDA. This proposal is to help prevent leaks of sensitive operational information, personnel information, or confidential pre-decisional discussion while preserving lawful whistleblower rights and… pic.twitter.com/T29tFo7JNx
— U.S. Office of Personnel Management (@USOPM) May 28, 2026
