Two government watchdog organizations have filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, alleging that three Trump administration officials violated the Hatch Act by participating in a political rally in Alaska earlier this month. The Democracy Defense Fund and Reporters Without Borders jointly submitted the complaint, which targets Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The complaint centers on the officials' appearances and remarks at a rally supporting Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or on federal property. The groups argue that the officials' actions crossed that line.
According to the complaint, Carr claimed he was speaking in a personal capacity, but his remarks focused on FCC business, both past and pending. The document notes that Burgum and Lutnick did not make any similar disclaimers. President Trump introduced the two cabinet secretaries by their official titles, and they failed to correct the impression that they were speaking in an official capacity, the complaint asserts.
The complaint also highlights a pending FCC vote on an Alaskan broadband deal, which Carr discussed the day after the rally in a post on social media platform X, saying he looked forward to working with Sullivan. This, the groups argue, tied his political activity directly to his official duties.
At the rally, Trump announced a $4.4 billion investment from Taiwan in an Alaskan pipeline project, crediting Sullivan for helping to secure the deal. The complaint contends that by referencing their official work, the officials leveraged their government roles to bolster political activity.
Clayton Wimers, executive director of Reporters Without Borders North America, issued a statement accusing Carr of having "annihilated any sense of independence the FCC once had." The complaint follows a pattern of scrutiny over political activities by administration officials, including a separate Hatch Act complaint against Rep. Ilhan Omar and ongoing concerns about politicization of federal agencies.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel confirmed receipt of the complaint but declined to comment further. The FCC, Interior Department, and Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment.
Penalties for Hatch Act violations can range from reprimand to removal from federal service, debarment from federal employment for up to five years, suspension, or a civil penalty of up to $1,000.
This complaint adds to a growing list of ethics challenges facing the administration, as critics argue that political battles in Washington increasingly blur the line between official duties and campaign activities.
