Ethics experts and nonprofit organizations have accused at least nine of President Donald Trump’s 15 cabinet secretaries of violating the Hatch Act during the 2026 midterm election cycle. The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits executive branch employees from using their official authority or government resources for partisan political activities. While the president and vice president are exempt, the law applies to all other civil employees within the executive branch.
The accusations center on cabinet members attending campaign rallies and using their official government titles while endorsing candidates. The nonprofit group Democracy Defenders Fund filed a formal complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) following an October 13 event in Alaska. According to the complaint, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were introduced by their official titles by the president during a rally for Republican Senate candidate Dan Sullivan. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr also attended, and though he stated he spoke in a personal capacity, the group alleged his remarks focused on FCC business.
Other officials cited in reports include Attorney General Todd Blanche, who appeared at a New York rally in August and spoke at a Republican National Convention event in September. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy endorsed a Senate candidate in Michigan, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a complaint from the nonprofit Steady State for campaigning in Kentucky and Iowa. Hegseth told an Iowa crowd in September that he was attending in a "personal capacity" based on legal advice. The White House defended these actions, with spokeswoman Lauren Bis stating that senior officials are permitted to discuss policies and candidates to advance the administration's agenda.
For the American public, the enforcement of this law dictates whether government business—such as the FCC's commitment to high-speed internet in Alaska or the Department of Justice's reports on crime rates—can be used as a platform for political endorsements. Critics argue that when officials stump for candidates using their formal titles, it creates an appearance that the federal government is endorsing specific partisan outcomes. Conversely, the administration maintains that these officials are exercising their right to advocate for their policy agendas, a practice they claim is well-established for senior executive staff.
The next steps involve the Office of Special Counsel reviewing the filed complaints to determine if formal investigations are warranted. The OSC declined to comment on the status of these specific inquiries on October 29. While the midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026, the legal and administrative review of these complaints often extends well beyond Election Day. There are currently no public deadlines for when the OSC must release its findings.