The United States federal government shutdown commenced at midnight on Wednesday, resulting in the suspension of numerous government services. This development followed Congress’s inability to agree on a critical funding bill. The Trump administration promptly attributed the shutdown to its opponents, specifically blaming Democrats for the impasse. Notably, the administration featured its accusations on an official government website, potentially violating federal law.
On Tuesday, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) added a partisan pop-up notification to its homepage, which was also displayed on a bold red banner. The message read, “The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands.” After the shutdown took effect, the pop-up and banner were altered to read, “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need.”
Reports indicate that staffers at multiple government agencies received emails from the White House Office of Management and Budget, laying blame on Congressional Democrats for the shutdown. The HUD website’s display of partisan sentiments raises concerns, as it may violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees in the executive branch from engaging in partisan political activities.
A nonprofit consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, has filed a Hatch Act complaint against HUD Secretary Ben Carson over the pop-up. According to Craig Holman, a government ethics expert with Public Citizen, “This is such an obvious violation of the Hatch Act that it raises the question: ‘How on Earth does HUD think they can get away with this?'” Holman attributes the potential violation to the Trump administration’s influence over ethics enforcement offices in the executive branch.
The government shutdown occurred due to Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill. Republicans supported a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government operational until November 21, while Democrats insisted on extending federal healthcare subsidies and reversing cuts to Medicaid. The impasse between the two parties led to the shutdown, with President Trump stating that his administration would make changes “bad for Democrats and irreversible” if a shutdown occurred.
The shutdown’s significance is underscored by President Trump’s record of overseeing the longest US government shutdown in 2018, which lasted 35 days. As the current shutdown continues, its impact on government services and the economy remains a concern. The situation highlights the ongoing partisan tensions in the US government, with the Trump administration’s actions on the HUD website potentially exacerbating these tensions.
