Groups Call on Biden to Lift the Censorship on Federal Staff

At least two groups have called on President-elect Joe Biden to eliminate the censorship on federal workers that bans them from speaking to the press without reporting to authorities.

The restrictions in effect often block staff from speaking to journalists at all.

Both groups make lifting the constraints a part of their agenda for early work in the new administration.

The News Media for Open Government says the administration should, among other things, eliminate, “current restrictions that prohibit government employees in Executive Branch agencies from communicating with the press unless a public information officer provides clearance and is involved.”

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University says the administration should: “Narrow or withdraw policies that unconstitutionally restrict public servants from participating in policy debates.”

It stresses, “These policies violate the free speech rights of the employees and deprive the public of access to critical information and insights.” 

Over six years coalitions of up to 60 organizations have repeatedly written to the Obama and Trump administrations and to Congress warning of the dangers of the constraints.