Overview

• HUD’s website displays a bright red banner and pop-up stating “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government,” which remained visible after the shutdown began.
• Public Citizen filed a formal Hatch Act complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel over HUD’s messaging, with the group calling it a blatant violation.
• Similar blame-focused language appeared across other federal channels, including agency websites, internal employee guidance, and a VA newsletter, with the White House also publishing partisan content.
• NBC News and UPI reported that departments such as Labor and State circulated internal emails suggesting out-of-office messages that attribute the funding lapse to Democrats.
• HUD officials defended the wording as ideological rather than partisan, while ethics experts and groups pressed for investigations and noted uncertainty after recent changes at the Office of Special Counsel and inspector general posts.