The Office of Special Counsel, which is in charge of enforcing
the Hatch Act,has issued an advisory addressing candidate
visits to federal agencies, providing examples of activities
prohibited by the law, which limits political activities by
federal employees and at federal facilities.
These include authorizing the use of a federal building or
office for campaign activities, such as town hall meetings,
rallies, parades, speeches, fundraisers, press conferences,
“photo ops” or meet and greets; attending or planning such
campaign events while on duty or in a federal building or office;
or distributing campaign literature or wearing campaign-related
items while on duty or in a federal building or office. The
opinion further states that OSC views candidates’ requests
to visit federal facilities that are coordinated by
candidates’ campaigns as presumptively for a campaign
purpose and not official
business.
The advisory is at
http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294945492/717148/310/0/
In addition, some agencies have internal guidance on candidate
visits and similar activities.
