1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am writing to report what appears to be a clear violation of the Hatch Act on the official website of the U.S. Department of Justice. At the top of the DOJ website, a shutdown notice currently reads: “Democrats have shut down the government.” This is partisan political messaging posted on an official, taxpayer-funded government website. It directly attributes blame to a political party, which constitutes “political activity” as defined by the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326). According to the Office of Special Counsel, federal employees and agencies are prohibited from: • Engaging in political activity while on duty or in a federal workplace • Using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election • Using government property for political purposes By explicitly blaming one political party for the shutdown, the Department of Justice appears to be misusing its authority and resources for partisan purposes. I respectfully urge your office to: 1. Investigate this violation promptly. 2. Ensure the notice is corrected to reflect a neutral, factual statement. 3. Hold accountable those responsible for approving this partisan message. Neutrality in government communication is essential to preserving public trust and the rule of law. I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.