Lawsuit filed by American Oversight on behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees and AFGE Local 2578 against the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). This suit challenges guidance issued by OSC that presumptively restricts federal employees from expressing any opinion on “impeachment” or policy matters if terms like “#resist” or “resistance” are used.

Like many norms in the Trump era, the prohibition on federal employees engaging in political activity while at work has been routinely tested by this administration.

FOIA to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel seeking unpublished opinions and guidance relating to the application of the Hatch Act.

Updated November 30, 2018. This week, the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) circulated troubling new Hatch Act guidance about the type of activity permitted for federal employees.

Update: The Office of Special Counsel has opened a case file in response to American Oversight's call for an investigation into Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's potential Hatch Act violations. American Oversight wrote to multiple federal offices requesting investigations of Whitaker.

Letter from American Oversight to the Office of Special Counsel calling for an investigation into Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker’s potential violations of the Hatch Act by accepting political campaign contributions in January and February 2018 while serving as a senior Justice Department official.

In response to American Oversight’s complaint, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) found Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Michael O’Rielly violated the Hatch Act during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). O’Rielly advocated for Donald Trump’s re-election while speaking at CPAC in his official capacity.

FOIA to OSC seeking all final decisions, memoranda, analyses, or recommendations concerning non-disclosure agreements for White House staffers.

FOIA to OSC seeking communications concerning non-disclosure agreement(s) for White House staffers, or the potential creation or enforcement of any such agreements, between OSC officials.

FOIA seeking communications concerning non-disclosure agreement(s) for White House staffers, or the potential creation or enforcement of any such agreements, between OSC and the White House Counsel’s office, including, but not limited to, Deputy White House Counsel Stefan Passantino.