1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the Trump Administration's blatant violations of the Hatch Act during the ongoing government shutdown. This 1939 law explicitly prohibits federal executive branch employees from engaging in partisan activities, yet we are witnessing an unprecedented spread of illegal partisan propaganda across government departments and agencies. Specific examples of these violations are alarming. The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, and even the Department of Justice have been disseminating messages that blame Democrats for the shutdown. This is a clear breach of the Hatch Act and sets a dangerous precedent for both current and future administrations. The severity of this situation cannot be overstated. As Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, points out, during his time in government, officials were strictly prohibited from any actions that could be perceived as partisan. The current administration's disregard for this long-standing law undermines the integrity of our democratic institutions and the principle of non-partisan public service. While complaints have been filed with the White House Office of Special Counsel, they appear to be ignored. This lack of accountability is unacceptable. It is encouraging to see some local administrators, such as airport officials, refusing to display partisan content like the video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. However, more must be done at the federal level to enforce the law. I urge you to take immediate action to stop this illegal activity. Please demand an investigation into these Hatch Act violations and push for strict enforcement measures. Our government's credibility and the public's trust in its institutions are at stake. We must ensure that taxpayer-funded resources are not misused for partisan purposes, especially during a time of government shutdown when many federal employees are working without pay or furloughed. The integrity of our democratic process depends on your swift and decisive action to uphold the law and hold those responsible accountable. Please prioritize this urgent matter and work to restore the non-partisan nature of our federal agencies.