Story perspectives

2025 Shutdown Sparks Partisan Messaging War Among Agencies

10/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The 2025 federal shutdown has escalated into a messaging war as government agencies use official communications to blame Democrats for the closure.
Reports indicate agencies altered email auto-responses and website banners to convey partisan messages, potentially violating the Hatch Act.
This shift marks a departure from past practices where agencies maintained neutrality.
Accountability for these actions may be delayed due to the furlough of oversight bodies.

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Story summary

The 2025 federal shutdown has escalated into a messaging war as government agencies use official communications to blame Democrats for the closure.
Reports indicate agencies altered email auto-responses and website banners to convey partisan messages, potentially violating the Hatch Act.
This shift marks a departure from past practices where agencies maintained neutrality.
Accountability for these actions may be delayed due to the furlough of oversight bodies.