Trump administration's anti-leak plan revealed in leaked document

National security adviser HR McMaster is recommending anti-leak trainings for more than 50 government departments and agencies

National Security Adviser HR McMaster speaks to members of the White House press corps during a daily briefing (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Trump administration is planning a wide-ranging crack-down on leaks from inside the government, according to a leaked internal memo.

The memo, first obtained by BuzzFeed News, directs more than 50 different federal agencies and departments to hold leak-prevention trainings in the coming weeks. It claims that the unauthorised disclosure of government information “causes harm to our Nation” and “shakes the confidence of the American people”.

In the memo, national security adviser HR McMaster directs the agencies and departments to “dedicate a 1-hour, organisation-wide event to engage their workforce in a discussion on the importance of protecting classified and uncontrolled unclassified information”.

Suggested programming includes a recorded interview with the national counterintelligence director, as well as an "open discussion" to ensure that "safeguarding measures are understood and effective”.

The Trump administration has been plagued by disclosures of unflattering information, from Mr Trump’s calls with world leaders to his comments about former FBI Director James Comey. Leaks have been pinned on everyone from White House insiders to departmental holdovers from the Obama administration.

The administration also been unusually aggressive in pursuing these leaks. Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said leak investigations had tripled under Mr Trump. He added that the Justice Department would not hesitate to arrest those who disclosed government information.

The Trump administration made their first leak-related arrest in June, when they detained a 25-year-old federal contractor for allegedly leaking classified information on Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.

But the latest crack-down doesn't stop with classified information: The memo tells recipients it is equally important to protect "controlled unclassified" and "personally identifiable" information from unauthorised public disclosure.

Former President Barack Obama has been accused of paving the way for this administration's policies. The Obama administration prosecuted a record number of leakers under the Espionage Act, though Mr Obama rarely discussed the subject publicly.

Most of these prosecutions, however, concerned leaks from inside the national security apparatus, such as Chelsea Manning’s infamous disclosures on Afghanistan. (Mr Obama pardoned Ms Manning before leaving office.)

Based on this memo, however, the Trump administration will pursue a much wider swath of leakers. The memo is addressed to 52 different government agencies and departments, from the Secretary of Agriculture to the director of the National Science Foundation. The administration has also suggested going after journalists who publish classified information.

Based on the President’s tweets, this administration will be much louder about their efforts, too.

“After many years of LEAKS going on in Washington, it is great to see the A.G. taking action!” Mr Trump tweeted last month. “For National Security, the tougher the better!”