A watchdog group has lodged a Hatch Act complaint against two government officials following the addition of politically charged banners on a website regarding a government shutdown linked to Democrats.
The complaint, which came in on Wednesday, targets Kelly Loeffler, the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Scott Turner, who directs the Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD).
The allegations made to the Special Advisory Office (OSC) claim these communications breach the Hatch Act. This act bars federal employees from engaging in political activities while on the job.
The text on the SBA site states, “Senate Democrats voted to block the Clean Federal Funds Bill (HR 5371), leading to government shutdowns preventing the US Small Business Administration from serving 36 million American small and medium-sized enterprises.”
It continues, “With each day Senate Democrats oppose this bill, around 320 small businesses risk losing access to $170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding.”
Critics describe the messaging as “a highly partisan statement targeting both federal employees and Congressional Democrats directly responsible for the shutdown,” arguing it harms small businesses and the wider public.
During the government shutdown, HUD modified its messaging, stating that Democrats have caused “great pain to the American people.”
“The radicals left in Congress have brought this shutdown upon us. HUD will utilize available resources to assist Americans in need,” claimed the HUD website.
Democrats in Congress have condemned the White House for manipulating the narrative around the shutdown to undermine their priorities and to justify further cuts to federal jobs.
They insist that funding bills should focus on reducing healthcare costs, especially in light of recent Republican proposals that could limit access to necessary care.
Both agency messages echo similar sentiments, casting Congressional Democrats in a negative light for the shutdown while praising Donald Trump for his efforts to assist citizens.
Such partisan messages are relatively rare in government communications, and although they might raise concerns, it’s unclear if they explicitly violate the Hatch Act.
Interestingly, the Trump administration had dismissed the former head of the OSC even after a confirmed five-year term, putting forth Paul Ingracia, a controversial ally, for the role.
Experts argue, “The message on the SBA website clearly breaches the Hatch Act. More agencies are adopting these illegal tactics.” They believe ethical authorities should take decisive action, as citizens deserve more than what’s currently happening.
Meanwhile, questions linger over whether similar messages sent via emails to federal employees breach the Hatch Act.
It’s uncommon for government communications to carry overt political messages. However, since the content doesn’t specifically mention elections, it may not cross the lines set by the Hatch Act.
The SBA has not responded to requests for remarks.
On a different note, Turner stated he isn’t concerned about breaching the Hatch Act during a conversation with News Nation host Chris Cuomo. “This isn’t just about politics; it’s about informing Americans on critical issues like the impact of this government shutdown,” he added.
