Hatch Act Revisions Finalized

OPM on Monday published final rules carrying out several changes to Hatch Act political activity restrictions on federal employees that were enacted in 2012, including a widening of the possible penalties for violations. Under the prior law, those found to have violated the law had to be fired, a penalty that only could be reduced to no less than a 30-day unpaid suspension by a unanimous vote of the MSPB governing board; now the options also include reprimand, a shorter suspension, a civil penalty of up to $1,000, or reduction in grade—as well as debarment from federal employment for up to five years in addition to firing. The rules also expand exceptions applying to employees living in areas with a substantial federal worker population, which allow them to run in partisan local elections as independents, and to participate in certain fundraising or other activities for partisan candidates in those elections. Also loosened were certain restrictions applying to state and local government employees whose jobs receive federal funding.