- President Donald Trump ’s administration is proposing a government-wide mandate requiring all federal workers to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
- These NDAs aim to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of "confidential government information" to journalists, broadly defined to include non-public, sensitive and pre-decisional material that is not available to the public and should not be disclosed under applicable law.
- The proposal would subject current and even former federal employees to potential civil and criminal penalties if they speak to the press without permission about information deemed confidential.
- Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor stated the proposal ensures accountability and protects sensitive government data, aligning with private sector practices.
- Critics, including the Freedom of the Press Foundation, argue the policy is secretive, undermines whistleblower protections, and infringes on the First Amendment , primarily serving to protect the administration from leaks.
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