Un-Hatched employees still stay out of campaigns

Federal employees said they wanted to be more involved in political activities, but a new study by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) shows only 11 percent of them are actually doing so. In 1993, the Hatch Act, which governs federal employees' political activities, was amended after a governmentwide study found that nearly 30 percent of federal workers were interested in having more opportunities to participate in partisan politics. But far fewer than that actually get involved in campaigns. "I think it's just a habit not to be terribly involved," said John Palguta, director of policy and evaluation for MSPB. "I don't think it's that they're not aware, because I believe someone who does want to get involved in a campaign [will] inquire as to what they can or cannot do." While federal workers still cannot run in partisan elections or raise money for partisan candidates, they can join political parties, go to rallies and meetings, hold office in parties or clubs, make campaign speeches for party-backed candidates, and distribute campaign literature. (They can't, however, do any of these things while at work, while wearing a government uniform or while driving a government vehicle.) "When you think about it, federal employees-probably more than non-federal employees-have a vested interest, in the sense [that elections are] about the people who will be their next boss at the highest level. So you would think if anybody has some motivation, it would be federal employees," Palguta said. But in the years following the law change, few employees have taken advantage of the opportunity, according to MSPB. "Maybe that will change over time as new people come into government," Palguta said. "But for folks who have been in government for awhile, which could be most of the folks who responded to our survey, there is a culture and value set that has formed over time and does not change very rapidly. Part of that mindset is to be nonpartisan and not involved in politics." Some employees, of course, get heavily involved in politics, or even try to run for partisan office themselves. The Office of Special Counsel, which is charged with both preventing and prosecuting violations of the Hatch Act, launched a campaign earlier this year to remind state and federal workers of the limitations placed on them by the Hatch Act.