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US Troops, Civilian Defense Workers Get Political Reminder

   WASHINGTON - Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan told troops and
   civilian workers Tuesday to avoid political displays while on the job,
   a reminder that comes after the White House told the Navy to keep the
   USS John S. McCain out of sight to avoid offending President Donald
   Trump during a visit to Japan.
   In separate memos to civilian and military leaders, Shanahan said their
   mission to protect and defend the nation should be apolitical.
   "Those of us privileged to serve our Nation, in and out of uniform, in
   the DoD must be the epitome of American values and ethics," Shanahan
   said.
   He told military commanders to remind those in uniform that they must
   avoid actions that imply Pentagon approval of political candidates or
   causes. In a memo to the civilian workforce he said personnel may take
   part in limited political activities, but "they may never engage in
   such activity while on-duty or in a Federal building."
   Both Shanahan and Trump have distanced themselves from the ship
   incident, in which an unknown official in the White House military
   office directed the Navy to keep the McCain out of sight, presumably to
   avoid reminding the president of the late Sen. John McCain.

   The warship was named for McCain's father and grandfather and was
   posthumously rededicated in the name of the senator and former prisoner
   of war.

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