During the 2026 election cycle, Campaign Legal Center continues to vigilantly monitor and demand public accountability for Hatch Act violations. Nonpartisanship as a cornerstone of civil service is a principle outlined in the Constitution, reaffirmed by the courts and protected by the law — namely, through the Hatch Act. The public has the right to...
At a Glance
The purpose of the Hatch Act is to keep partisan politics out of federal programs and ensure that government employees do not use their authority for partisan purposes. Campaign Legal Center is defending the right of Americans to have a government that works for them — not their political parties — by tracking and highlighting Hatch Act violations.
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About this Action
Passed in 1939, the Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities in their official capacity, such as making public appearances at campaign events or disparaging a political opponent while on duty.
Outlawing this activity ensures that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion and protects federal employees from political coercion in the workplace. It also enshrines in law a core principle of our government: Nonpartisanship is the bedrock of civil service.
CLC has flagged potential Hatch Act violations numerous times to alert government agencies of potential misconduct and call on the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate. Violations of the Hatch Act can result in disciplinary action such as reprimand, suspension, demotion or dismissal. In one such instance, OSC determined that former White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway acted improperly when she advocated against an Alabama Senate candidate on TV.
CLC has used this and other occurrences of government malfeasance as opportunities to educate the public about the Hatch Act and other ethics laws, with the goal of ensuring that government resources and authority are being used properly.
What’s At Stake?
When Hatch Act violations occur in broad daylight and are followed with little to no accountability, they erode the public’s trust in democracy and the government institutions that support it.
The first Trump administration featured multiple Hatch Act violations, and the second Trump administration has shown no signs of changing. Rather, President Trump has embraced a culture of corruption that has trickled down throughout the government and emboldened his top officials to openly challenge the ethics laws that guard democracy.
The American people should be able to trust those wielding governmental power to live up to high ethical standards. Public service is a public trust. Campaign Legal Center will be monitoring to identify any potential Hatch Act violations by administration officials in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms and demand accountability.