The Perils of Politics in Government: A Review of the Scope and Enforcement of the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, the District of Columbia, and some state and local employees who work on federally-funded programs. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which investigates and prosecutes possible Hatch Act violations, currently is investigating possible violations related to briefings provided by White House staff throughout the federal government. In light of this far-reaching investigation and the upcoming election season, now is an opportune time to review how the Hatch Act is functioning. This hearing will examine the scope of Hatch Act, how it is enforced, and whether the Act needs to be enhanced or clarified.