Cincinnati, Ohio – Ohio Congressman Greg Landsman and Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi have introduced legislation aimed at preventing the Trump administration from requiring federal employees to sign nondisclosure agreements that could discourage them from reporting wrongdoing within the government.
The two Democratic lawmakers are pushing the No Disrupting Accountability (NDA) Act, a proposal designed to protect federal workers who report waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.
The legislation would prohibit federal funds from being used to impose government-wide nondisclosure agreements that violate existing whistleblower protections.
The proposal follows an earlier announcement by the Trump administration outlining plans to allow federal agencies to require employees to sign broad confidentiality agreements, even when their jobs do not involve classified information.
Landsman and Krishnamoorthi argue that such requirements could prevent federal employees from sharing important information with Congress and the public, potentially making it harder to uncover misconduct.
“Government employees should never be silenced from exposing waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption – and federal funds should never be used to allow it. Our bill will make sure taxpayer dollars protect the public interest.”
The statement from Landsman reflects his position that government employees should be able to report wrongdoing without facing restrictions that conflict with their legal rights.
Lawmakers previously challenged proposed federal employee confidentiality rules
The legislation follows an earlier effort by Landsman and Krishnamoorthi to question the administration’s plans.
In June, the two congressmen sent a letter to the director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), demanding answers about the proposed government-wide nondisclosure agreement requirement.
The administration’s proposal would allow federal agencies to require workers to sign agreements with broad and indefinite confidentiality terms.
According to the lawmakers, those requirements could extend to employees who do not work with classified information, raising concerns about whether the agreements could discourage legally protected disclosures.
The congressmen have argued that existing whistleblower protections must remain effective and that federal workers should not be pressured into believing they cannot report government misconduct.
Krishnamoorthi criticized the proposed policy and emphasized Congress’s responsibility to oversee federal agencies.
“Congress has a duty to hold this administration accountable, and that means protecting those who expose wrongdoing. The Trump administration’s new secrecy rule threatens to silence federal workers and conceal waste, fraud, and abuse from the American people. Our legislation would overturn that rule and make clear that no nondisclosure agreement can override federal whistleblower protections. Federal employees must be free to expose wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.”
The proposed legislation would address those concerns by restricting the use of taxpayer money to enforce government-wide agreements that conflict with whistleblower protections.
Supporters say the measure would help ensure that confidentiality requirements cannot be used to prevent workers from making disclosures protected by federal law.
Federal employee unions announce support for proposed legislation
The No Disrupting Accountability Act has received support from four major organizations representing public employees.
They include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).
These organizations have expressed concern that broad nondisclosure requirements could create fear among federal workers and discourage them from reporting problems within government agencies.
NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald argued that employees must retain their ability to communicate about matters they are legally permitted to discuss.
“Federal employees have the right to free speech. The administration’s proposed nondisclosure agreement is an attempt to silence the very people who can tell Congress and the American people what’s happening inside their government. NTEU is proud to endorse the No Disrupting Accountability (NDA) Act. We applaud Representatives Krishnamoorthi and Landsman for standing with federal employees and fighting back against this assault on federal worker’s rights.”
The union’s support adds to the pressure on federal officials to address concerns about the proposed confidentiality requirements.
Supporters of the legislation argue that employees who witness misconduct may be among the most important sources of information for lawmakers responsible for government oversight.
They also warn that unclear restrictions could cause workers to remain silent even when federal law permits them to report wrongdoing.
Labor leaders warn proposed agreements could discourage government accountability
AFSCME President Patrick Moran also criticized the proposed confidentiality requirements, arguing that public employees need the freedom to report problems affecting government operations.
“Public service workers are meant to be accountable to the public, but they can’t fulfill that responsibility if they’re forced to sign non-disclosure agreements that intimidate them from sharing information that is entirely legal to share. AFSCME applauds Reps. Landsman and Krishnamoorthi for introducing the No Disrupting Accountability Act, which would block federal funds from being used to silence workers. This legislation is urgently needed to protect the public and public service workers from the bullying and fear this administration is imposing on the federal workforce. Public service workers need the freedom to use their voices to expose corruption and ensure accountability in government.”
Moran’s statement emphasized the relationship between employee rights and the public’s ability to learn about government activities.
NFFE National President Randy Erwin raised similar concerns about the possible effects of the OPM proposal.
“Accountability and transparency are critical to our public services, federal workforce, and democracy as a whole. OPM’s proposed rule goes against the idea of protecting whistleblowers who report waste, fraud, and abuse. Federal workers and NFFE-IAM members must be free to speak the truth about matters of public concern. NFFE endorses the No Disrupting Accountability (NDA) Act to prevent OPM from issuing this misguided rule. Thank you to Representatives Landsman and Krishnamoorthi for their leadership on this issue.”
The union leaders’ statements reflect a shared concern that broad confidentiality agreements could weaken protections intended to help uncover wrongdoing in federal agencies.
The organizations supporting the legislation believe federal workers should be able to raise concerns about misconduct without fearing that a nondisclosure agreement will be used against them.
Proposed bill seeks to protect whistleblower rights and taxpayer funds
The No Disrupting Accountability Act is intended to prevent federal agencies from using government money to require nondisclosure agreements that undermine legal whistleblower protections.
Its supporters argue that taxpayer funds should not support policies that could prevent the public from learning about waste, fraud, abuse or corruption.
The legislation also represents a continuation of the oversight efforts Landsman and Krishnamoorthi began with their June letter to OPM.
Although the lawmakers have introduced the bill and received support from several federal employee organizations, the proposal would still need to move through the legislative process before becoming law.
For now, the debate centers on whether the administration’s proposed confidentiality requirements could discourage employees from reporting wrongdoing and whether additional congressional action is necessary to protect their rights.
Landsman and Krishnamoorthi maintain that federal employees must remain free to disclose information protected by law, regardless of whether their agencies require confidentiality agreements.
Their legislation seeks to establish a clear financial restriction against government-wide nondisclosure requirements that conflict with those protections, while reinforcing the role of federal workers in identifying misconduct and helping Congress hold government agencies accountable.
