Have you seen this? If you visited *** government website lately like the US Department of Justice HUD or the US Department of Agriculture, you may have noticed that since the shutdown there's been these sorts of banners at the top of the screen basically blaming Democrats for the shutdown. For example, this one says due to the radical left Democrat. Shut down this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. Now something else that's happened is *** video from the Department of Homeland Security has been sent to airports all across the country to be played for travelers. The video and those website banners are why people are now bringing up the hatch Act. Let's get the facts on the Hatch Act. It's *** federal law passed in 1939. It limits political activities for most federal employees, as well as some state and local employees who work on federally funded programs. According to the Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency that enforces the Hatch Act, the purpose of the law is threefold. Number one, it's to ensure federal programs are administered in *** non. 2 to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and 3, to make sure that they can advance their careers based on merit and not on political affiliation. Boiling all that down, the Hatch Act is there to make sure the federal executive branch workforce is free from political influence and pressure and ensuring certain government resources aren't used for partisan purposes. *** few basic examples of violations of the Hatch Act include if *** federal employee used their authority to interfere or affect the results of an election, if they host or sell tickets to *** political fundraiser, or if *** federal employee uses an email or social media account to distribute content that advocates. For or against *** partisan political party, what happens if someone violates the Hatch Act? That employee could be subject to *** range of disciplinary actions, including *** letter of reprimand, *** suspension, or *** demotion or even termination. Helping you get the facts. I'm John Cardinelli.
The blame game continues as to why the government shutdown continues Now, questions have emerged over whether the administration is violating a federal law that limits political activity by government employees called the Hatch Act. Messaging in QuestionThe government watchdog group, Public Citizen, has filed several complaints regarding messaging at the top of their websites, blaming the democrats for the government shutdown. Those agencies include the Department of Justice, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, etc. Some of the banners have statements that include, "Democrats have shut down the government," and "Due to the radical left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse."Adding to the questioning, a video with a similar message from the Department of Homeland Security has reportedly been distributed to airports nationwide to play for travelers. What Is the Hatch Act?The Hatch Act was introduced by Senator Carl A. Hatch, a Democrat from New Mexico, and passed in 1939. It restricts political activities by most federal employees and some state and local workers whose jobs are funded by the federal government.According to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) — the independent agency that enforces the law — the Hatch Act has the following purposes:To ensure federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan way.To protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace.To make sure career advancement is based on merit, not political affiliation.In short, the law is intended to keep government operations and resources free from partisan influence.Examples of Violations Violations of the Hatch Act can include:Using official authority to influence or interfere with the result of an election.Employees can’t use his or her title while engaged in political activity.Employees may not invite subordinate employees to political events or suggest they attend them.Employees cannot host or sell tickets to a political fundraiser.Employees may not engage in political activity while he or she is on duty, in any federal room or building, while wearing a uniform or official insignia, or using any federally owned or leased vehicle. That includes; Displaying campaign materials.Post comments to a blog or social media site that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. Use any email account or social media to distribute, send, or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. Some recent real-life examples of Hatch Act violations include White House counselor Kellyanne Conway's comments on Fox News about the Alabama Senate special election in 2017, FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly's speech at CPAC, which advocated for the reelection of President Donald Trump, in 2018, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge's signaling of support for Democratic candidates in the 2022 Ohio Senate elections and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's use of the term "MAGA Republicans" during briefings in 2022. You can read more about violations here. What happens if you violate the Hatch Act?Employees found in violation can face disciplinary actions ranging from a written reprimand to suspension, demotion, or even termination.The complaints about the shutdown-related banners have been filed with the Office of Special Counsel. However, the website says that because the office is currently closed due to the shutdown, those complaints won’t be reviewed until operations resume.Watch the video below for more Get the Facts coverage:
WASHINGTON — The blame game continues as to why the government shutdown continues
Now, questions have emerged over whether the administration is violating a federal law that limits political activity by government employees called the Hatch Act.
Messaging in Question
The government watchdog group, Public Citizen, has filed regarding messaging at the top of their websites, blaming the democrats for the government shutdown. Those agencies include the , the , the Department of Housing and , the , etc. Some of the banners have statements that include, "Democrats have shut down the government," and "Due to the radical left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse."
Adding to the questioning, a video with a similar message from the Department of Homeland Security has reportedly been distributed to airports nationwide to play for travelers.
What Is the Hatch Act?
The Hatch Act was introduced by Senator Carl A. Hatch, a Democrat from New Mexico, and passed in 1939. It restricts political activities by most federal employees and some state and local workers whose jobs are funded by the federal government.
(OSC) — the independent agency that enforces the law — the Hatch Act has the following purposes:
- To ensure federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan way.
- To protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace.
- To make sure career advancement is based on merit, not political affiliation.
In short, the law is intended to keep government operations and resources free from partisan influence.
Examples of Violations
Violations of the Hatch Act can include:
- Using official authority to influence or interfere with the result of an election.
- Employees can’t use his or her title while engaged in political activity.
- Employees may not invite subordinate employees to political events or suggest they attend them.
- Employees cannot host or sell tickets to a political fundraiser.
- Employees may not engage in political activity while he or she is on duty, in any federal room or building, while wearing a uniform or official insignia, or using any federally owned or leased vehicle. That includes;
- Displaying campaign materials.
- Post comments to a blog or social media site that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.
- Use any email account or social media to distribute, send, or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.
Some recent real-life examples of Hatch Act violations include White House counselor Kellyanne Conway's in 2017, FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly's , which advocated for the reelection of President Donald Trump, in 2018, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge's for Democratic candidates in the 2022 Ohio Senate elections and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's use of the term "MAGA Republicans" .
You can read more about violations .
What happens if you violate the Hatch Act?
Employees found in violation can face disciplinary actions ranging from a written reprimand to suspension, demotion, or even termination.
The complaints about the shutdown-related banners have been filed with the Office of Special Counsel.
However, the website says that because the office is currently closed due to the shutdown, those complaints won’t be reviewed until operations resume.
Watch the video below for more Get the Facts coverage:
