A Department of Labor memo warned that speaking to press or anyone outside of the agency about agency business could lead to criminal charges.
Sent by Jihun Han, Chief of Staff to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, cautions staff against speaking to journalists.
"Individuals who disclose confidential information or engage in unauthorized communications with the media may face serious legal consequences," the memo, obtained by ProPublica, stated. "Any unauthorized communication with the media will be treated as a serious offense."
Consequences may include "immediate disciplinary actions, up to and including termination," and "potential criminal penalties."
"This message will serve as your only warning," the memo advised.
"It's very chilling," one Labor Department employee told ProPublica. "It's never a good look when you're telling people to never talk about what you're doing."
The directive follows reports that current and former employees have spoken to journalists about internal agency turmoil, including staffing cuts and restructuring that some say are weakening protections for American workers.
"It's been horrible," the employee continued, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the climate at a department ravaged by spending freezes, layoffs and restructuring. "It's very difficult to work when you're in a constant state of being terrorized by your employer."
Legal experts questioned the severity of the memo's language.
"Normally, disclosures to the press or others would be a matter of employee discipline as opposed to carrying criminal sanctions," Gabe Rottman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said, explaining criminal penalties are typically reserved for leaks that compromise national security or financial information.
While the move may buck convention, the directive is in line with the Trump administration's expectation of complete loyalty within its ranks, as well as its efforts to discourage critical reporting that the White House perceives as unfavorably biased.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has vowed to crack down on leaks, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called leaks about his Signal texts informing his wife, brother and lawyer about military operations an attempt to "sabotage the agenda of the president."
Originally published on Latin Times
