House Democrats Seek OSC Probe of Shutdown Messaging
House Democrats asked the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to probe partisan messaging from the Trump administration during the federal shutdown, alleging official channels were used for political rhetoric. A formal Hatch Act complaint by former Idaho legislator Todd Achilles singled out a U.S. Forest Service website banner, the OSC’s Hatch Act Unit said it was “out of office” due to the appropriations lapse (potentially delaying review), and the AFGE separately sued the Education Department over automated partisan emails and sent a cease‑and‑desist letter.
Government/Regulatory
Politics
Legal
📌 Key Facts
- House Democrats have sought an Office of Special Counsel (OSC) probe into partisan messaging tied to the government shutdown.
- Former Idaho state legislator Todd Achilles filed a formal Hatch Act complaint that specifically names a U.S. Forest Service website banner as the alleged violation.
- NPR reported (Oct. 7, 2025) that the OSC's Hatch Act Unit indicated it was “out of office” because of the appropriations lapse, potentially delaying review of complaints.
- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) sued the U.S. Department of Education over automated partisan emails sent during the shutdown.
- AFGE also sent a cease‑and‑desist letter regarding those automated partisan emails.
📚 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.
📰 Sources (2)
Democrats take legal aim at "the Radical Left" language during shutdown
New information:
- A formal complaint was filed by former Idaho state legislator Todd Achilles specifically naming a U.S. Forest Service website banner as the target of a Hatch Act violation complaint.
- Confirmation that the Office of Special Counsel's Hatch Act Unit indicated it was 'out of office' due to the appropriations lapse, potentially delaying review.
- Reporting reiterates and quotes AFGE's separate legal action: the union sued the U.S. Department of Education over similar automated partisan emails and sent a cease‑and‑desist letter.