OPM Creates One NDA to Rule All Federal Employees
Published Date: 5/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Personnel Management wants to create one clear nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for all federal employees, new and current, to protect secret government info while explaining their rights. They’re asking for public comments by June 26, 2026, before finalizing the form. This change aims to keep government secrets safer and make rules easier to understand—no extra costs involved, just better clarity and consistency.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Whistleblower and Authorized Disclosure Rights Preserved
OPM explicitly states the proposed NDA would preserve the right to make disclosures authorized by law, including protected whistleblower disclosures under statutes like the Whistleblower Protection Act. OPM also says the NDA does not create new substantive restrictions on employee speech or disclosure rights.
Governmentwide NDA for Federal Employees
If you are a federal employee, OPM proposes a single standard nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for use by agencies for both new and existing employees. OPM says the NDA is meant to document your agreement to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information and to promote consistency across the Government.
Agencies May Choose Whether To Use NDA
OPM says the proposed NDA would be an Optional Form, meaning each Federal agency would have discretion whether to use it. If an agency elects to use the form, it would be administered to newly hired employees as part of onboarding and to current employees.
NDA Will Be Placed in Official Personnel Folder
OPM states that the signed NDA would become part of an employee's Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) and be covered by the OPM/GOVT-1 system of records. OPM also says it does not plan to modify the Govt-1 system to accommodate the NDA.
Signing Requirement Will Be Disclosed in Job Announcements
OPM says that for new hires, a requirement to sign the NDA would be advertised as part of a job opening announcement for the vacancy. OPM expects a new agreement would be executed if there is an agency change or a break in service, but not for every position change within an agency.
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Key Dates
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