A federal enforcement office investigated and revealed that Navy Secretary SECNAV Carlos Del Toro participated in prohibited political activity during a BBC interview in January. This announcement was part of several recent findings.
The federal Office of Special Counsel reported that several of Del Toro’s remarks breached the Hatch Act, which regulates political activities of federal employees. Typically, federal employees, including political appointees like the Navy Secretary, are prohibited from participating in political activities while at work or on duty, engaging in such activities in an official capacity at any time, or soliciting or receiving political donations.
“The best way for federal employees, including agency leaders, to avoid Hatch Act violations is to check with us before — not after — doing something that might run afoul of the law,”
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger
The Office of Special Counsel found that Del Toro violated the Hatch Act by supporting President Joe Biden’s re-election and criticizing Republican candidate Donald Trump during a BBC interview in January, which occurred during his official visit to the UK.
It is possible that Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro is at a risk of losing his position in federal service, a few disciplinary actions as well. Probably he may be debarred from federal service for some years and monetary penalties as per law & decision of authorities. SECNAV Del Toro violated the Hatch Act during his trip to UK in January 2024.
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger wrote in a letter to the President that Del Toro “impermissibly asserted his personal political campaign views during official agency business.”
What is a Hatch Act?
The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, is a federal law designed to ensure that federal programs, especially elections are administered in a nonpartisan manner and to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace. Named after Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico, the act was a response to concerns about political activities influencing federal employees’ work, particularly during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
It prohibits the federal employees from the following:
- Political Activities
- Political Influence
- Political Fundraising
The Hatch Act is enforced to make sure that federal employees are recruited & promoted based on merit and not by political affiliation and to rule out the use of federal resources for partisan political discourse. SECNAV Carlos Del Toro will have to face the law & is at the risk to bear the actions from law enforcement bodies.