Federal Managers Association

In the News

• HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM SENDS LETTER TO FED AGENCIES INQUIRING ON HATCH ACT COMPLIANCE - July 26, 2016

• House Committee Wants to Know What Agencies Are Doing to Comply with Hatch Act Travel Restrictions

  By Ian Smith, Fed Smith

  The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter late last week to Executive branch agencies requesting information on how they ensure compliance with the Hatch Act’s restrictions on political travel.

  The letter stated that the Hatch Act prohibits the use of Treasury funds to pay for costs associated with political activity by Executive branch employees and that the Committee’s position is that taxpayers should not pay for the travel expenses of the cabinet and other senior officials for political purposes. The letter also noted, however, that it is not always clear if the purpose of a trip is political in nature.

  “Further complicating the matter is that some trips may involve both political and official activities. The costs associated with the political components of a senior official’s mixed trip may not be paid using funds from the United States Treasury…” wrote Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) in the letter.

  To read more please click here

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