Senate Democrats are demanding a federal investigation after government websites displayed banners blaming the “radical left” for an imminent shutdown.
The messages, posted on official agency pages and in automatic out-of-office email replies, claimed that Democrats’ “$1.5 trillion wish list” was driving the funding impasse, while the administration was depicted as working to keep government operations open.
Ethics specialists argue that this sort of messaging could violate the federal Hatch Act and other laws that prohibit partisan political content from using taxpayer-funded platforms. Complaints have been filed and Congressional leaders are pressing for answers.
The move highlights growing tension over how government communications are being used during budget standoffs—and whether agencies are straying into political warfare.