An environmental advocacy group has filed complaints under the Hatch Act against the Department of Health and Human Services and Forest Service, accusing them of posting partisan messaging that blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. The Center for Biological Diversity argues federal agencies crossed legal boundaries by displaying banners on government websites that describe the shutdown as “Democrat-led” and claim “Radical Left Democrats shut down” operations.
Federal Agencies Display Partisan Banners Amid Shutdown
Both HHS and the Forest Service posted messages to their websites in the wake of the shutdown that directly target President Trump’s political opponents. A banner displayed on the HHS website as of Friday afternoon describes the situation as caused by a “Democrat-led” action. The Forest Service went further, stating on its site that “The Radical Left Democrats shut down the government.”
The Forest Service banner also posted messages claiming “President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.” This language appears across multiple agency websites, raising questions about coordination among Trump’s political appointees who oversee these departments.
Center for Biological Diversity Challenges Federal Officials
The Center for Biological Diversity argued the move violates the Hatch Act, which limits political activity of federal employees. The complaints specifically target HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, who the environmental advocacy group accused of violating federal ethics laws. The filed complaints assert these officials are “ultimately responsible” for postings on their agency websites.
Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the center, issued a written statement criticizing the administration’s approach. “Trump’s political appointees are so desperate for his approval, they’re willing to blatantly violate the law for a pat on the head,” Kurose said. She accused the administration of transforming government websites into “campaign billboards” rather than public service platforms, calling it “Trump fan fiction.”
Legal Arguments Focus on Partisan Tone
The complaint against Kennedy specifically addresses how the term “Democrat-led” functions as an “epithet” to describe a political party at odds with the current Administration. According to the legal filing, this language “strikes a partisan tone” and “seeks to influence public opinion regarding an ongoing political dispute.” The complaint argues the banner “attributes sole responsibility” for the shutdown to the President’s political opponents.
The Hatch Act traditionally restricts how federal employees can engage in political activity while performing official duties. Ethics watchdogs have long monitored whether government agencies cross the line from informing the public to advancing partisan messaging. The Center for Biological Diversity contends that blaming Democrats through official channels constitutes an improper use of federal resources for political purposes.
Multiple Agencies Face Similar Complaints
The HHS and Forest Service aren’t the only government agencies to incorporate such messaging. Banners on the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have displayed similar messages targeting Democrats. Meanwhile, various federal agencies also sent out emails to their employees blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
Ethics experts told The Media at the time that such messages were “unusual” but not “necessarily illegal.” However, the SBA and HUD have faced a similar complaint over the banners on their sites. A union representing federal employees sued the Department of Education, alleging it “replaced employees’ out-of-office email messages” with “partisan language that blames ‘Democrat Senators'” without their consent”.
Agencies Remain Silent on Violationsgoverne
The agencies did not immediately respond to The Media’s requests for comment on the complaints. The silence from HHS and the Forest Service comes as the ongoing government shutdown continues to affect operations across federal agencies. The lack of response leaves unanswered questions about whether the political appointees acted independently or followed direction from higher administration officials.
The press release from the Center for Biological Diversity emphasizes that agency leaders are ultimately responsible for content appearing on official government websites. Whether these officials were desperate to demonstrate loyalty or believed the messaging fell within legal bounds remains unclear. The Hatch Act complaints now proceed through official channels, where investigators will determine if the banners and emails turned public service platforms into tools for political warfare during the shutdown.
