Post AyyMLBgRXuPEnTFF6O by GuyC59@social.vivaldi.net
(DIR) More posts by GuyC59@social.vivaldi.net
(DIR) Post #Ayx6y33lkYWSv5hhIW by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T02:54:50Z
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A #FederalWorkers #union is suing the #Trump admin for inserting language into Dept of #Education employees' out-of-office email messages blaming #Democrats for the govt #shutdown."Forcing civil servants to speak on behalf of the political leadership's partisan agenda is a blatant violation of federal employees' #FirstAmendment rights," said the complaint filed by the American Federation of Govt Employees.#law https://www.npr.org/2025/10/05/nx-s1-5563182/shutdown-lawsuit-education-department-partisan-messages
(DIR) Post #Ayx7HzSeq4qBYCr1gu by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T02:58:24Z
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The lawsuit is the first to challenge the #Trump admin's unusual use of #partisan messaging in government communications during the #shutdown, which legal experts told NPR may violate federal #ethics laws.The White House began pointing the finger at #Democrats as the govt shut down on Oct 1 after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund operations.#law
(DIR) Post #Ayx7U86MXXQTp7DLyy by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T03:00:38Z
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Messages posted on agency websites & in emails to #FederalWorkers across multiple Cabinet depts blamed congressional Democrats &, in some cases, the "Radical Left" for the shutdown & its impacts. (#Republicans control both chambers of #Congress….)#law #ethics #FirstAmendment #Trump
(DIR) Post #Ayx7c8Bq5yWOPjajNg by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T03:02:04Z
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Many furloughed Dept of #Education employees were surprised to see the following in their out-of-office replies: "Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations, I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume."
(DIR) Post #Ayx7j0aMlbGKrALKkq by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T03:03:20Z
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Multiple employees told NPR that although the message was written in the first person & sent from their email, they did not write it & were not told it would replace whatever out-of-office message they had originally set up.The language also differed from the model language the dept had provided to staffers as they prepared for the 5shutdown, acc/to the lawsuit. Some staffers who tried to change their out-of-office messages to remove the partisan language found they were changed back.#law
(DIR) Post #Ayx7vZfGAb2r7vck2C by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T03:05:35Z
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The lawsuit argues that the messages violate the #FirstAmendment, which prohibits the #government from compelling speech…“Without giving notice to their employees, let alone obtaining their consent, the Department of Education has replaced employees' out-of-office email messages with partisan language that blames 'Democrat Senators' for the shutdown,”it said. "Employees are now forced to involuntarily parrot the #Trump Administration's talking points with emails sent out in their names."#law
(DIR) Post #Ayx84V0eqVkDIQt8fA by Nonilex@masto.ai
2025-10-07T03:07:13Z
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Government #ethics experts have said that the inclusion of overtly political messages in federal agency communications could violate the #HatchAct, which limits political activity by civil servants in the executive branch."The Hatch Act prohibits engaging in political activity while in an official capacity, including communication that contains advocacy in opposition to a political party," Michael Fallings, a partner at Tully Rinckey, an employment law firm, said in a statement.#law #Trump
(DIR) Post #Ayx87FVivXba60jLge by Bam@sfba.social
2025-10-07T03:07:41Z
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@Nonilex It also seems they have being presented as violating the Hatch Act.
(DIR) Post #AyyMLBgRXuPEnTFF6O by GuyC59@social.vivaldi.net
2025-10-07T17:21:44Z
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@Nonilex As a former federal employee, I recall receiving regular official communications and annual training warning that such partisan political statements in an email might subject me to sanctions including the possibility of criminal prosecution and jail under laws including the #HatchAct.