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Senators Demand Removal of Partisan Messages from Government Websites During Shutdown
A group of 24 Democratic and Independent senators has called on the Trump Administration to immediately remove what they describe as “illegal partisan messages” from official government websites and communications during the current government shutdown.
In a strongly worded letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, the senators, led by Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and Rhode Island’s Jack Reed, both senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, condemned what they view as an unprecedented politicization of federal agency communications.
The senators cited examples beginning September 30, 2025, when federal agencies allegedly began displaying politically charged messages on their official platforms. Most notably, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website now features a red banner stating: “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government.”
Similar partisan messages have reportedly appeared on websites for the Small Business Administration, Department of Justice, and Department of Agriculture, according to the letter. Additionally, the senators claim that furloughed employees at several agencies, including the Departments of Education, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration, have had their out-of-office email responses modified without consent to include political messaging blaming Democratic senators for the shutdown.
“These activities are in blatant violation of Section 715 of P.L. 118-47, which prohibits federal funds from being used for propaganda purposes ‘designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress,'” the senators wrote. They also argued that the actions potentially violate both the Anti-Lobbying Act and the Hatch Act, which restrict political activities by federal employees using government resources.
The senators disputed the factual accuracy of the messages, noting: “Democrats have voted four times over the last week to fully fund the government only to be rebuffed by our Republican colleagues.” They emphasized that while political debate is important, “agency resources, including websites or emails, should not be used to send overtly political, and in this case, misleading messages, to the American people.”
The current shutdown, which began October 1, marks the third government closure during the Trump Administration, following previous shutdowns lasting 3 and 35 days. The senators pointed out that during those earlier shutdowns, agency websites followed traditional precedent in how they notified the public, without partisan messaging.
Violations of the Hatch Act can result in serious consequences for federal employees, including removal from service, grade reduction, suspension, reprimand, or civil penalties up to $1,000. The Anti-Lobbying Act carries even steeper potential penalties, with civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
Senator Merkley, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee with direct oversight of OMB, is spearheading efforts to hold accountable those within the administration who directed these communications.
The letter was signed by a significant bloc of Democratic and Independent senators, including Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
The controversy highlights growing tensions between the executive and legislative branches as the shutdown continues with no immediate resolution in sight, raising questions about the appropriate use of government communications channels during periods of political conflict.
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9 Comments
This is a concerning trend that undermines the credibility and integrity of government institutions. Maintaining strict political neutrality in official communications should be a top priority for any administration.
This is certainly concerning. Partisan messaging on government websites and communications is a clear breach of the separation of powers. I hope the administration addresses this issue promptly and restores impartial, factual information for the public.
Agreed, it’s critical that government agencies remain neutral and avoid overt political propaganda, regardless of the party in power.
Mixing partisan politics with government communications is a troubling breach of the public trust. I hope the senators’ demands are taken seriously and that steps are taken to uphold the nonpartisan nature of federal agencies.
Absolutely, the American people need to be able to rely on their government for objective, unbiased information, not political propaganda.
While I understand the desire to communicate the administration’s perspective, using official government channels for overtly partisan messaging is highly problematic. Taxpayer-funded resources should serve the public interest, not political agendas.
Exactly, the public deserves objective, nonpartisan information from their government, not partisan talking points.
It’s critical that government agencies maintain strict political neutrality and avoid using official platforms for partisan messaging, no matter which party is in power. The public deserves impartial, factual information from their government.
This is a concerning development that seems to cross ethical and legal boundaries. I hope the administration takes swift action to remove any improper partisan content and restore the integrity of government communications.