Top Oversight Democrat calls for investigation into GOP messaging on shutdown

Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is calling for an investigation into Republican messaging on the ongoing government shutdown.

“I write regarding the Trump Administration’s apparent violations of the Hatch Act, and illegal use of government resources to promote a false, partisan Republican political agenda,” Garcia wrote in a Thursday letter to acting special counsel Jamieson Greer.

“On September 30, 2025, the Trump Administration posted political messages regarding the current government shutdown on at least one agency website and via official government emails to thousands of federal employees,” he added.

The Hatch Act is a federal law from 1939 that bars federal employees from taking part in partisan activities.

On Tuesday, federal employees at several agencies got emails pinning the blame on congressional Democrats for a possible shutdown “forced” by the party, an uncommon use of government communications that often avoid political comments.

Multiple departments have put out messaging blaming Democrats for the shutdown, with a message on the Department of Health and Human Services’s (HHS) website saying that “mission-critical activities of HHS will continue during the Democrat-led government shutdown.”

“Given the Trump Administration’s blatant violation of the law, I request that the Office of Special Counsel immediately open an investigation into this clear misconduct, and for you to cooperate with our Committee as we investigate this blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars for political purposes,” Garcia said in his letter.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for comment.