Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is having members of her transition team sign confidentiality agreements to prevent leaks as they prepare for her administration to take office next month.
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has directed her transition team members to sign non-disclosure agreements, a move aimed at keeping internal discussions private as the incoming administration shapes its policy agenda. About 175 volunteers serving on Sherrill’s ten “policy action teams” were asked to sign the agreements, according to individuals familiar with the process and a copy of the document reviewed and reported on by POLITICO.
Sherrill initially asked for a record-breaking $1,000,000 for her transition team. That request was turned down, but Democrats are now seeking to give her team $650,000 in public funding, a sharp increase over past governors.
The agreements are designed to ensure that internal deliberations remain confidential as the teams draft recommendations for Sherrill’s administration, which will take office in January. Sherrill’s spokesperson, Sean Higgins, defended the practice, describing it as a standard step meant to protect a “deliberative process” and allow for a free exchange of ideas.
“Members of the Action Teams have been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, a common practice, because this is a deliberative process, ideas evolve, and we want to encourage a robust discussion and free exchange of ideas from thought leaders regarding the Governor-elect’s agenda,” Higgins said in a statement.
NDAs not a universal practice in N.J. transitions
While outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy also required members of his transition team to sign NDAs in 2017, the practice is not consistent across administrations. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie said his 2009 transition committees did not require such agreements, calling transparency an important part of the process at the time.
The NDAs underscore Sherrill’s emphasis on message control as she builds her administration amid heightened public interest in her policy priorities, particularly on housing, education, and infrastructure.
Sherrill preparing for January swearing-in
Sherrill, a Democrat and former U.S. congresswoman from Montclair, was elected governor in November after defeating Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. Her transition operation has been underway since early November, with teams composed of policy experts, local officials, and nonprofit leaders working on recommendations to be presented before her inauguration.
The governor-elect’s office has not disclosed whether the confidentiality agreements include expiration dates or whether they apply to public records created during the transition. No legal challenges to the NDAs have been reported.
Focus shifts to policy rollout
With her inauguration weeks away, Sherrill’s team is expected to begin outlining key legislative proposals for the first 100 days of her administration. Political observers say the confidentiality agreements may limit early insights into those plans, leaving the details of her policy priorities to be unveiled after she takes office in Trenton next month.