New Bill Seeks to Increase Protections for Federal Whistleblowers

In response to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) proposed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for federal employees, lawmakers have introduced the Federal Worker Protection Act.

Congressmen Eugene Vindman and Suhas Subramanyam recently introduced the legislation, which is designed to “provide federal whistleblowers stronger and clearer protections against intimidation or retaliation related to protected disclosures,” according to a statement from Vindman’s office.

In May 2026, OPM issued a template for an NDA for federal employees “with access to sensitive government information including personally identifiable information, operational plans, personnel records and other protected materials,” according to the agency.

The template would allow federal agencies to use standardized confidentiality agreements for covered employees and contractors whose duties involve routine access to sensitive systems or protected information, OPM said at the time. If finalized, it would become an official government form that agencies could use as a standard part of the employee onboarding process.

Saying that such an agreement “could have a serious chilling effect on lawful whistleblowing,” Vindman and Subramanyam introduced their bill.

“Federal workers should never have to choose between doing their jobs and speaking up when they see something wrong. Last fall, I hosted a town hall for federal employees, where I heard directly from them about the fear and pressure they were facing,” said Vindman, in a statement.

“These are people who have dedicated their careers to serving our country and our communities. This legislation makes clear that public servants who speak up will not face politically motivated retaliation. I will always take action to root out corruption and protect federal workers.”

Organizations including the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) have endorsed the legislation.

“Federal employees take an oath to the Constitution, not to silence,” said NARFE National President William Shackelford, in a statement.

“When an agency hands a career civil servant a nondisclosure agreement with a vague scope and the implicit threat of removal behind it, the practical effect is that lawful disclosures are never made. The Federal Workers Protection Act puts the protections in writing, in plain language, and gives employees a real path to court when they are threatened for doing the right thing.”