
Hatch Act Information
Most frequently asked questions:
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the agency responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act, recently issued clarifying guidance on popular social media questions. To ensure that your knowledge is up-to-date, I encourage you to review the frequently asked questions and answers below (prepared by designated ethics officials).
A: YES, provided you are not in the workplace, in a government building or vehicle, using USG equipment (e.g., computers, phones, Internet connectivity) or wearing an official badge or uniform.
A: NO. Simply identifying your political party affiliation on a social media profile, which also contains your official title or position, without more, is not improper. However, including your official title or position in the text of a partisan message would be a Hatch Act violation, as well as a violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct (misuse of position).