The Education Department is using nondisclosure agreements to protect discussions related to the outsourcing of agency programs to other federal departments, Reuters reported, citing four anonymous sources.

Reuters’ sources say the move is unusual because the talks aren’t related to national security and that the goal was to prevent information sharing outside of the department.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced a series of six agreements last week that send a number of grant programs to four federal agencies. Under the agreements, the other agencies will administer the programs for ED, which will continue to set policy for them, among other changes.

A senior Education Department official told Reuters that the NDAs are allowed and in line with business and governmental practices.