It never should’ve happened.

More than 300 members of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s transition team ahead of his inauguration signed nondisclosure agreements, curtailing what information about the transition – perhaps most notably what special-interest groups may be financially contributing to it – would be shared with voters and taxpayers.

It is a jarring, disheartening start to the tenure of a governor who, as the Democratic nominee, purported to value transparency and accountability.

As Spotlight PA recently reported, experts in and advocates for the First Amendment have grave reservations about the use of nondisclosure agreements to limit free speech. Beyond the matter of free speech, we all should have reservations about nondisclosure agreements impeding the ability of voters to assess how elected officials are performing in their jobs.

The Shapiro administration’s defense is that they are not alone in the use of nondisclosure agreements – public officials from both parties have used them for years – and that they can protect sensitive information, including personal data from applicants.

But as Spotlight PA asked, could the agreements be tailored more narrowly to cover just that sort of information? It’s a question that went unanswered by Shapiro’s transition team.

We are disappointed that these sorts of agreements are becoming more of a norm.

We hope our state Legislature will consider the ramifications of this erosion of transparency and rein in the practice, lest the very idea that our state government must be open and accountable to the public wash away altogether.