Posted on 10/08/2025 1:13:54 PM PDT by DFG
Democratic Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott accused Trump administration officials of violating federal law Wednesday by setting automatic email replies that blamed the government shutdown on Democrats.
Scott, the top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, urged Republicans to hold a hearing on whether the messages breach the Hatch Act, which bars political activity by federal employees. He said the out-of-office emails are “in apparent violation of the Hatch Act and other statutes” and called for “hearings on these acts as soon as possible” in a letter obtained by ABC News.
Scott’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller’s request for clarification on how the emails might constitute a Hatch Act violation.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had encouraged employees at the Departments of Labor, Justice and Education to set automatic replies blaming “Democrat senators” for the shutdown, the outlet reported. Several furloughed Education Department staffers told the outlet their out-of-office messages were automatically configured to include the partisan language.
When ABC News pressed for comment, an agency spokesperson responded, “Where’s the lie?”
“The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
Similar notices appeared across multiple federal websites after the Senate voted failed last week to approve a continuing resolution. Agencies including Health and Human Services and the State Department posted shutdown messages explicitly blaming Democrats for the lapse in funding.
One notice on the Department of Agriculture’s website read: “Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”
Enacted in 1939, the Hatch Act bars most federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty or using government resources for political messaging. Violations can trigger discipline ranging from suspension to removal from federal service.
The Caller reached out to the House Oversight Committee, which oversees federal ethics enforcement, to ask whether it plans to act on Scott’s request for a hearing. The committee did not respond by publication.
Sounds like Bobby Scott should check his panties for a freshly-dropped load...
He’s just PO’ed because he wasn’t smart enough to think of it first.
“Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government”
That’s a simple and demonstrably true statement.
Hatch Act ain’t part of it.
Hahaha. “The left can’t meme.”
“Bobby” needs more work if he can worry about this.
Long ago, I dated two gorgeous girls named “Bobby” (separated by a few years, of course). What are the odds? I don’t think this “Bobby” is in the same league as my dates.
What a joke! If the Hatch Act were enforced half of federal employees would be in trouble, and most of them Dims.
The 1939 Act forbids the intimidation or bribery of voters and restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. It prohibits using any public funds designated for relief or public works for electoral purposes.
There’s no intimidation or bribery here, or campaigning.
Bobby’s projecting. Go pound sand into your rathole Bobby.
The CDC Wonder website for the Public went down after the Govt. Shutdown. I do weekly updates of the Mortality & VAERS data for personal use and got a “Bad Gateway” message on a white screen not long after the Shutdown last week. Today the CDC Wonder website is back up with a very direct message, putting the blame on the Democrats for the Shutdown. There won’t be any updates, but you can still access what’s already posted.
https://wonder.cdc.gov/
Tell little Bobby he is not the Chair and the House is on recess till the Senate votes on the CR. Life is tough for them.
Since when is telling the truth a violation of federal law?
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