The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent mass emails praising President Trump over the course of three days, raising concerns among legal experts about potential violations of federal ethics laws. The emails were distributed to individuals with online accounts just days before the midterm elections.
In one of the emails, Frank Bisignano, commissioner of the SSA, highlighted the agency’s transformation under Trump, stating, “Under President Donald J. Trump, the Social Security Administration… meets and exceeds customer expectations for fast, accurate and secure service.” Bisignano, who also leads the IRS, sent a similar message from the tax agency that praised Trump’s tax legislation, noting that it had provided significant financial relief for Americans.
The IRS email contained a disclaimer indicating it was “for informational purposes and does not constitute a communication about a taxpayer’s specific situation,” and that the agency “does not generally send e-mails to taxpayers.” However, several legal experts expressed concern that the emails, particularly their timing, could violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits executive branch employees from using their positions for partisan political purposes.
Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, characterized the emails as “propaganda” rather than informative public service messages. Richard W. Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and former White House ethics lawyer, echoed this sentiment, stating that the communications could be seen as efforts to influence public perception of Trump just before the elections.
Clark compared the emails to a promotional ad campaign by the Trump administration earlier this fall, suggesting that both could violate the Hatch Act and other regulations against the misuse of federal funds for publicity or propaganda.
As of now, both the SSA and IRS have not responded to requests for comments regarding the emails or the allegations of impropriety.
