Your tax dollars are paying for political advertising. Federal agencies have sent emails and mail praising the president and attacking his opponents, to people who never asked for it. Some of it went to Social Security account holders, who trust that agency with their retirement. The Hatch Act exists to keep government resources out of partisan campaigns, yet complaints from lawmakers have been brushed aside. Workers have even had their out-of-office messages changed to carry political statements they never wrote. When agencies act as a campaign arm, the people they serve lose. Public servants must work for everyone, whatever their party. Congress can give the rules teeth with real penalties for officials who order partisan messages, independent enforcement, and protection for employees who refuse. Ban federal agencies from using taxpayer-funded communications for partisan political messaging, and punish officials who break the rule.
