1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Today I take pen in hand to write I am deeply concerned about the terrible misuse of government resources for partisan messaging and misinformation during the ongoing government shutdown. Federal websites and email systems are being used to distribute politically charged statements blaming Democrats for the current impasse. This practice is not only inappropriate but also likely violates federal laws regarding the use of government resources for political purposes. Specifically, I've learned that some federal workers were instructed to use out-of-office email templates stating they were furloughed because "Democrat Senators are blocking passage" of a funding bill. This is a clear attempt to use official government communication channels to push a partisan narrative, which undermines the integrity and neutrality of our civil service. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty or using government resources. By extension, using government websites and email systems to disseminate partisan messages likely violates the spirit, if not the letter, of this law. Such actions erode public trust in our institutions and exacerbate political divisions at a time when cooperation is crucial. I urge you to take immediate action to address this issue. Please investigate these issues, and subpoena the ones in charge of the websites. Additionally, I request that you work to implement stricter guidelines to prevent the use of government platforms for political messaging in the future. Our government should serve all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Using official channels to assign blame in a complex political situation is unacceptable and must be stopped. Thank you.