Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has called for an investigation into the White House’s messaging surrounding the government shutdown, asserting that the content likely violates the Hatch Act. In a letter to acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer, Garcia highlighted that federal employees should not engage in political activities, and the White House’s messaging allegedly contravenes this law. The messaging includes banners on agency websites like HUD and USDA blaming Democrats for the shutdown. These messages are under investigation, with Public Citizen also filing complaints against HUD and the Small Business Administration, arguing that the White House is circumventing the law and that federal agencies should serve the American people, not a political party.