Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of pieces that will look at the rules and laws governing federal employees’ political activities as we head into the midterm elections.
The midterm elections are coming and as people across the country make campaign contributions and attend political fundraisers, federal employees might be wondering how, if at all, they can participate.
Federal employees are to various degrees subject to the Hatch Act, which restricts their political activity while at work. But the law still allows for them to do campaign-related things, which can vary by position and/or agency.
“No federal employee is prohibited from making campaign contributions, whether it's to a political party or to a campaign. The Hatch Act does not prohibit employees from making contributions,” an attorney in the Hatch Act division of the Office of Special Counsel, which enforces the law, told Government Executive. “However, all employees regardless of whether they’re less restricted, further restricted, a political appointee or whatever, all employees are prohibited from soliciting or receiving political contributions.” That applies both on and off the job.
There is one limited exception to the prohibition on solicitations. This is for “federal employees who belong to a federal employee labor organization and want to solicit contributions to that organization’s political action committee,” said the attorney. “Such employees may do so as long as [they] only solicit...
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