Federal Agencies' Partisan Shutdown Messages Raise Ethics Concerns

Federal agencies have disseminated messages attributing the impending government shutdown to Democratic lawmakers, a move that has raised concerns among ethics experts about potential violations of federal laws prohibiting partisan activity in official communications.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's website displayed a prominent banner stating that "The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands." Similar messages were sent to staff at multiple agencies, including the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Labor, State, Treasury, and Health and Human Services, as well as the Social Security Administration and the General Services Administration.

Ethics experts have expressed alarm over these communications. Michael Fallings, a partner at Tully Rinckey law firm, stated that such correspondence "could be considered a violation of the Hatch Act," which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty. Donald Sherman, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, noted that while the messages may not technically violate the Hatch Act, they "certainly violate the spirit of that law."

The White House Office of Management and Budget reportedly directed these messages. An email to National Labor Relations Board staff indicated that "The Office of Management and Budget has requested that we send the attached message to you regarding a potential lapse in funding." An Interior Department spokesperson confirmed that the message was issued "under the guidance of the Office of Management and Budget and in alignment with their protocols."

The Office of Management and Budget did not respond to requests for comment.