Increased Transparency and Accountability in Hatch Act Enforcement
This Act aims to enhance transparency and accountability in enforcing rules against political activity by federal employees. Citizens will gain better insight into how the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) handles complaints, especially those involving high-ranking officials, potentially boosting public trust in the impartiality of public administration. New reporting and demographic data publication requirements are designed to ensure consistent and unbiased enforcement of the law.
Key points
Increased Transparency: The OSC will be required to notify Congress of decisions not to investigate noncareer employees and publish detailed explanations for such decisions.
Expanded Reporting: The OSC will annually report to Congress on complaints regarding political activity by noncareer employees, including the number of complaints received and investigations initiated.
Public Demographic Data: The OSC will track and publish anonymized demographic data (race, sex, ethnicity, disability status) of employees subject to complaints, aiming to ensure impartial enforcement.
Employee Definitions: The Act introduces clear definitions for career and noncareer employees, which should facilitate the application of regulations and increase precision in reporting.
Expired
Citizen Poll