Democrats take legal aim at "the Radical Left" language during shutdown

"There are brewing legal fights against the Trump administration for language it's posting on federal websites and in government emails blaming the Democrats for the government shutdown. The controversy centers on language posted at the top of federal agency websites and in some automated email responses. They warn the public responses could be slow due to "the Radical Left Democrat Shutdown." Democrats and a union representing federal workers argue the language violates the 1939 Hatch Act,"

"In a complaint filed with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, former Idaho Democratic state legislator Todd Achilles argues the language is a prohibited political message on public infrastructure. "I filed the complaint because we don't play politics with public lands," Achilles told NPR. "The Forest Service exists to serve all Americans regardless of political affiliation." It's not clear how quickly Achilles' complaint will get addressed though."

Federal agency websites and automated email responses have displayed banners and out-of-office messages blaming Democrats for the government shutdown and warning of slower responses due to "the Radical Left Democrat Shutdown." Democrats and the American Federation of Government Employees contend the messaging violates the 1939 Hatch Act, which restricts partisan activity by executive branch employees during work. Former Idaho state legislator Todd Achilles filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel calling the banners prohibited political messages on public infrastructure. The Hatch Act Unit reported it was out of office due to a lapse in appropriations. The Department of Education faced a related lawsuit and cease-and-desist.

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