Senate Democrats, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), requested the Government Accountability Office (GOA) investigate federal agencies for posting partisan messages during the government shutdown, citing potential violations of federal appropriations law.

Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

The Hill

Senate Democrats, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), requested the Government Accountability Office (GOA) investigate federal agencies for posting partisan messages during the government shutdown, citing potential violations of federal appropriations law.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in a post on its website and reposted by HUD Secretary Scott Turner, declared that the "Radical Left" would "shut down the government" unless they "received their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands."

Trump Department of Housing and Urban Development

Scott Turner

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in a post on its website and reposted by HUD Secretary Scott Turner, declared that the "Radical Left" would "shut down the government" unless they "received their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands."

Multiple federal agencies, reportedly also including Agriculture, Justice, Treasury and the Small Business Administration, posted similar partisan shutdown messaging on their official websites, while some directed employees to use political out-of-office messages.

Multiple federal agencies, reportedly also including Agriculture, Justice, Treasury and the Small Business Administration, posted similar partisan shutdown messaging on their official websites, while some directed employees to use political out-of-office messages.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture displayed a banner stating Senate Democrats voted 14 times against reopening government and were withholding services in exchange for healthcare for illegals and gender mutilation, raising Hatch Act concerns.</span

STLPR

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture displayed a banner stating Senate Democrats voted 14 times against reopening government and were withholding services in exchange for healthcare for illegals and gender mutilation, raising Hatch Act concerns.

State agencies took different approaches to communicate pauses in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit pauses, with Nebraska blaming Senate Democrats and Illinois initially referring to the Republican federal government shutdown before softening the language.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services?

Illinois Department of Human Services

State agencies took different approaches to communicate pauses in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit pauses, with Nebraska blaming Senate Democrats and Illinois initially referring to the Republican federal government shutdown before softening the language.

Federal law prohibits agencies from using appropriated funding to generate publicity designed to influence Congress on legislation, and violations typically also breach the Antideficiency Act, according to the Democrats, citing GOA findings.

Federal law prohibits agencies from using appropriated funding to generate publicity designed to influence Congress on legislation, and violations typically also breach the Antideficiency Act, according to the Democrats, citing GOA findings.

Republicans are shamelessly violating federal law by turning neutral agency sites into campaign billboards. HUD, USDA, DOJ, Treasury, SBA and TSA pushed partisan shutdown lines, and Education changed staff auto-replies without consent. Using appropriated funds for propaganda to sway Congress is clearly illegal and should trigger an Antideficiency Act response.

Republicans are shamelessly violating federal law by turning neutral agency sites into campaign billboards. HUD, USDA, DOJ, Treasury, SBA and TSA pushed partisan shutdown lines, and Education changed staff auto-replies without consent. Using appropriated funds for propaganda to sway Congress is clearly illegal and should trigger an Antideficiency Act response.

Warren Seeks Probe of Agencies' Partisan Shutdown Messages

The Spin

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Warren Seeks Probe of Agencies' Partisan Shutdown Messages

The Spin

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