Is “automatic email” the new autopen?
A top Democratic Senator is trying to make it seem that way in the midst of the ongoing government shutdown.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) accused Trump administration officials of violating federal law by setting “automatic email” replies that blamed the government shutdown on Democrats.
According to reports, Scott, who is the top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, demanded Republicans hold a hearing on whether the messages violate the Hatch Act, which bars political activity by federal employees.
Enacted in 1939, the Hatch Act bars most federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty or using government resources for political messaging.
Violations can trigger discipline ranging from suspension to removal from federal service.
Scott told ABC News he believes the out-of-office emails are “in apparent violation of the Hatch Act and other statutes” and called for “hearings on these acts as soon as possible” in a letter obtained by ABC News.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had encouraged employees at the Departments of Labor, Justice and Education to set automatic replies blaming “Democrat senators” for the shutdown, the outlet reported. Several furloughed Education Department staffers told the outlet their out-of-office messages were automatically configured to include the partisan language.
When asked for comment by ABC News, an OMB agency spokesperson quipped, “Where’s the lie?”
“The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government,” the spokesperson told ABC News.
Similar automatic notices appeared across multiple federal websites after the Senate voted failed last week to approve a continuing resolution.
Agencies including Health and Human Services and the State Department posted shutdown messages explicitly blaming Democrats for the lapse in funding.
One notice on the Department of Agriculture’s website read:
“Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”
The House Oversight Committee, which oversees federal ethics enforcement, has yet to respond on whether it plans to act on Scott’s request for a hearing.
This is an ongoing story. Check back for further developments.