"One Education Department employee, who like another worker interviewed for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said they wanted to change the language but worried that logging into the system might violate a federal law that prohibits furloughed employees from working. The language apparently inserted into the emails, which the system automatically sends in response to incoming correspondence, echoes messages plastered on a number of government websites and social media accounts since the government ceased most operations Wednesday."
"Congress has been unable to agree on how to fund the government, and congressional Democrats refuse to agree to a spending plan that does not restore funding for Medicaid and extend health insurance subsidies. Some agencies updated their websites Wednesday with boldface messages announcing the shutdown and laying the blame on Democrats. In some cases they referenced the "radical left," echoing Republican talking points."
Out-of-office email messages for some furloughed Education Department staff were changed to state that "Democrat Senators" were blocking passage of H.R. 5371, causing a lapse in appropriations. The messages informed recipients that employees were in furlough status and would respond once government functions resumed. Some employees expressed shock and concern about altering the messages because logging into systems while furloughed might violate federal law prohibiting work. Similar partisan language and blame for the shutdown appeared on multiple agency websites and social media, though the Education Department website did not adopt the same messaging. Multiple agencies directed staff to include partisan language in automatic replies.
Read at Boston.com
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