A former Homeland Security official, Miles Taylor, has criticized a new Trump administration policy that seeks to restrict what federal employees can say about their work, warning that it could represent a troubling expansion of government secrecy.

According to the policy, federal workers would be prohibited from sharing a wide range of “non-public” information, including details about actions they observe or directives they receive while on the job.The administration has described the measure as a way to protect sensitive government information, but critics argue it could suppress transparency.

Taylor, writing in an analysis published on his Substack, argued that the policy bears resemblance to tactics designed to prevent disclosure of misconduct.

He suggested it could make it harder for civil servants to speak out about potential wrongdoing within government agencies, effectively limiting whistleblowing.

In his commentary, he drew comparisons to what he described as a “catch and kill” approach used in private business contexts, where negative stories are allegedly suppressed before becoming public.

The article also references past allegations involving former President Donald Trump and the National Enquirer, which have been widely discussed in media and legal proceedings.These include instances in which individuals reportedly received payments for exclusive rights to stories that were never published.

Taylor used these examples to argue that similar dynamics could be emerging at a larger scale within the federal workforce, now encompassing millions of employees.Supporters of stronger confidentiality rules argue that such policies are intended to protect national security and sensitive operational details.

Critics, however, warn that overly broad restrictions could undermine accountability and limit the ability of federal workers to expose wrongdoing or participate in public oversight of government actions.