On the first day of the US government shutdown, employees at the Department of Education (DOE) discovered their automatic out-of-office email responses had been altered to include partisan language, blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown. This change was made without employee consent, with some employees attempting to revert to neutral language only to have it changed back. The DOE’s human resources had originally provided employees with neutral out-of-office language, as did the Small Business Administration and, according to sources and screenshots reviewed by WIRED, the Department of Labor. The altered message explicitly placed blame on Senate Democrats.
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Watchdog group files Hatch Act complaint over federal agencies blaming Democrats for shutdown.
Here’s the situation: a watchdog group has filed a Hatch Act complaint because they believe federal agencies are unfairly blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. It seems like a familiar tune, doesn’t it? The Hatch Act is meant to keep federal employees from playing partisan politics. The general consensus is that the Hatch Act is a law that’s difficult to enforce, especially when those in power are the ones who would need to enforce it. There’s a real frustration here, a sense of the rules not mattering.
The process for dealing with Hatch Act violations involves a few different organizations, all under the president’s control.… Continue reading
Office of Special Counsel says it’s opened Hatch Act probe of Jack Smith, and the immediate reaction is a mixture of disbelief and a bit of dark humor. It’s hard to ignore the irony, isn’t it? The same folks who arguably turned the Hatch Act into a punchline during the Trump administration are now turning their attention to a special counsel investigating the former president. It’s like a scene straight out of a political satire.
The core issue, of course, is the Hatch Act itself. This law is designed to keep federal employees from using their positions to influence elections. It’s about maintaining a sense of impartiality and preventing the government from being overtly partisan.… Continue reading
Former special counsel Jack Smith is now under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, following requests from Senator Tom Cotton. The investigation stems from accusations that Smith attempted to influence the 2024 presidential election by accelerating proceedings in Trump’s election interference case. Cotton alleges Smith, a registered independent voter, was acting on behalf of Democrats. Smith’s indictment against Trump for actions related to the 2020 election results spurred the investigation, though Smith ultimately dismissed the case after Trump won the 2024 election.
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The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is investigating former special counsel Jack Smith following allegations by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans that Smith engaged in illegal political activity during his investigations. The OSC is examining potential violations of the Hatch Act, though specific evidence of wrongdoing hasn’t been provided by Trump and his allies. The OSC, an independent agency, can recommend disciplinary actions like removal from federal service or refer findings to the Department of Justice but cannot bring criminal charges. Senator Tom Cotton requested the investigation, citing “unprecedented interference in the 2024 election.”
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Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a temporary restraining order, blocking President Trump’s dismissal of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), pending a February 26th hearing. Dellinger’s firing, lacking stated cause, violates a 1978 law requiring justification for removal. This case tests the limits of presidential power over independent agencies, particularly concerning the OSC’s role in protecting whistleblowers and enforcing the Hatch Act. The Trump administration’s argument that the congressional law is unconstitutional challenges established legal precedent regarding independent agency heads.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood