Federal agencies are taking an unusual step during the ongoing government shutdown by posting and distributing partisan messages blaming Democrats, raising concerns about taxpayer money being used for political purposes.
The Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and several other agencies circulated email templates telling employees to cite Senate Democrats as the cause of the funding lapse in out-of-office replies. Similar language appeared on the websites of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State Department, the Treasury Department, and the Forest Service. HUD’s site displayed a banner declaring: “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government,” while also sending a newsletter to veterans with nearly identical language.
Roughly 750,000 federal employees are furloughed without pay, though members of Congress and President Trump continue to receive salaries. Critics argue it is unethical and possibly illegal to use federal resources for partisan messaging when taxpayer-funded services are shuttered. “The Trump administration turned a government agency website into a partisan billboard. It’s an abuse of power, a waste of taxpayer money, and appears to be a violation of the law,” said Virginia Canter of Democracy Defenders Fund.
Watchdog groups have filed complaints, citing the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from using their positions for political influence.
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