The Department of Agriculture’s deployment of a government website to blast congressional Democrats has drawn a formal complaint submitted to a watchdog agency that’s locked shut and lacks a Senate-confirmed leader.
In a familiar-sounding Hatch Act complaint filed with the Office of Special Counsel, the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, asserts that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ use of the USDA’s official website has violated the law restricting federal employees from partisan action.
The USDA website greets front-page visitors with an announcement in large typeface: “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program.” This refers to Democrats voting against a continuing resolution that would reopen the government and keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other federal activities going.
“They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance,” the USDA website declares.
