Dems want investigation into shutdown messages on federal sites
The article reports that House oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA) has called for an inquiry into the use of federal websites during the recent government shutdown to promote Republican political messaging. Garcia sent a letter to acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer,citing potential violations of the Hatch Act,a federal law that restricts political activity by government employees to maintain nonpartisanship in federal programs.The letter criticizes the Trump management for allegedly using government resources to advance a partisan agenda instead of working collaboratively with Democrats to resolve the shutdown.
Examples of contested messaging include the Small Business administration’s out-of-office email template blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown,the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website banner accusing “The Radical Left in Congress” of shutting down the government,statements from the Department of Veterans Affairs blaming “radical liberals,” and the White House’s “shutdown clock” website labeling Democrats as responsible.
Republicans have defended these communications, arguing that pointing out Democrats’ role in blocking funding bills is not a violation of the Hatch Act since it does not mention elections or campaigns.GOP sources contend that Democrats misinterpreted advisory opinions related to the law. The article notes ongoing partisan disputes over the legality and appropriateness of political messaging using government resources during the shutdown.
Oversight Democrats demand investigation into shutdown messages on federal websites
House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA) sent a letter Thursday demanding an investigation into the use of federal websites to promote Republican political points during the government shutdown.
As both parties have raced to win the messaging war of the government shutdown, House Oversight Democrats sent a letter to acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer as part of an effort to investigate the Trump administration for its apparent use of government resources to promote the Republican agenda regarding the government shutdown. The letter cites the Hatch Act, which imposes restrictions on political activity by the federal government.
“Republicans control the Senate, the House, and the White House, and instead of taking responsibility for their shutdown or working in good faith with Democrats to reopen our government, this Administration is likely breaking the law to promote their false, extreme partisan political agenda on official government sites,” Garcia wrote in the letter.
“We must investigate these likely violations of the Hatch Act to make sure that the federal government works in the best interests of the American people, not one party or Administration,” he continued.
This letter comes after Republicans have aimed to blame Democrats for the shutdown. Earlier this week, employees at the Small Business Administration received a template provided by human resources for their out-of-office email on the first day of the government shutdown. The SBA draft message read “I am out of office for the foreseeable future because Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown.”
Similar messaging has popped up in other areas of the government this week. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website posted a bright red banner that said, “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need.” The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a statement blaming “radical liberals in Congress” for service disruptions in the event of a shutdown. The White House website debuted a “shutdown clock,” updated Wednesday to say, “Democrats Have Shut Down the Government.”
The 1939 Hatch Act is a federal law that restricts political activity by government employees to keep federal programs nonpartisan, protect workers from political pressure on the job, and ensure that employees are promoted based on merit rather than party affiliation.
But Republicans have pushed back on the sentiment that this messaging violates the 1939 law.
“Democrat Ranking Member Garcia clearly didn’t read the OSC Advisory Opinion he cites. By using the same logic contained in the advisory opinion, pointing out that Democrats are filibustering a clean continuing resolution to force a shutdown isn’t a violation of the Hatch Act because it doesn’t mention elections or campaigns,” a GOP House Oversight spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
FEDERAL AGENCY ADVISES FURLOUGHED WORKERS TO BLAME DEMOCRATS FOR SHUTDOWN IN OUT-OF-OFFICE REPLY
A source familiar with House Oversight GOP told the Washington Examiner that the Democrats cited the wrong date for the advisory and did not read the advisory opinion ruling from the Biden administration, saying they did not violate the Hatch Act when Education Secretary Miguel Cardona blamed “Republican elected officials” for court rulings in an email to federal student loan borrowers.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Greer for comment.
Samantha-Jo Roth contributed to this report.
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