By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-oversight-democrats-call-for-investigation-into-trump-administrations-shutdown-messages Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter House Oversight Democrats call for investigation into Trump administration’s shutdown messages Politics Oct 2, 2025 4:13 PM EDT Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, suggested in a letter to the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel that the Trump administration has made “apparent violations of the Hatch Act, and illegal use of government resources to promote a false, partisan Republican political agenda.” WATCH LIVE: Jeffries holds news conference as shutdown stretches into 2nd day “Messages shared by multiple Trump Administration agencies in the last few days attempt to place blame for the current government shutdown on congressional Democrats and the Democratic Party,” Garcia’s letter reads, citing social media posts from department secretaries and messages on the websites of federal agencies. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Garcia requested that the Special Counsel’s office, which is headed by an acting official and Trump appointee, “immediately investigate these likely violations of federal law,” which prohibits government agencies and officials from engaging in partisan electoral politics. Garcia said that any probe would inform future House Democratic investigations into “any and all cases in which federal power or resources are weaponized for political reasons.” Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, suggested in a letter to the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel that the Trump administration has made “apparent violations of the Hatch Act, and illegal use of government resources to promote a false, partisan Republican political agenda.” WATCH LIVE: Jeffries holds news conference as shutdown stretches into 2nd day “Messages shared by multiple Trump Administration agencies in the last few days attempt to place blame for the current government shutdown on congressional Democrats and the Democratic Party,” Garcia’s letter reads, citing social media posts from department secretaries and messages on the websites of federal agencies. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Garcia requested that the Special Counsel’s office, which is headed by an acting official and Trump appointee, “immediately investigate these likely violations of federal law,” which prohibits government agencies and officials from engaging in partisan electoral politics. Garcia said that any probe would inform future House Democratic investigations into “any and all cases in which federal power or resources are weaponized for political reasons.” Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now