Democratic Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott accused Trump administration officials of violating federal law Wednesday by setting automatic email replies that blamed the government shutdown on Democrats.
Scott, the top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, urged Republicans to hold a hearing on whether the messages breach the Hatch Act, which bars political activity by federal employees. He said the out-of-office emails are “in apparent violation of the Hatch Act and other statutes” and called for “hearings on these acts as soon as possible” in a letter obtained by ABC News. (RELATED: GOP Sen. Details Blue State Fallout From Schumer Shutdown: ‘Their Dreams Are Collateral Damage’)
Scott’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller’s request for clarification on how the emails might constitute a Hatch Act violation.
A woman walks past a sign indicating the National Gallery of Art is closed as the US government continues its shutdown October 6, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had encouraged employees at the Departments of Labor, Justice and Education to set automatic replies blaming “Democrat senators” for the shutdown, the outlet reported. Several furloughed Education Department staffers told the outlet their out-of-office messages were automatically configured to include the partisan language.
When ABC News pressed for comment, an agency spokesperson responded, “Where’s the lie?”
“The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
Similar notices appeared across multiple federal websites after the Senate voted failed last week to approve a continuing resolution. Agencies including Health and Human Services and the State Department posted shutdown messages explicitly blaming Democrats for the lapse in funding.
One notice on the Department of Agriculture’s website read: “Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”
Enacted in 1939, the Hatch Act bars most federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty or using government resources for political messaging. Violations can trigger discipline ranging from suspension to removal from federal service.
The Caller reached out to the House Oversight Committee, which oversees federal ethics enforcement, to ask whether it plans to act on Scott’s request for a hearing. The committee did not respond by publication.
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