Political Activity (Hatch Act) | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Skip Navigation Political Activity (Hatch Act) Close the left navigation Federal employees are subject to some specific prohibitions just because of their federal employment status, and the application of some restrictions depends on the employee status, e.g., regular employee versus Commissioned Officer versus Senior Executive Service. The following documents will help you understand what you may and may not do in the political arena. Hatch Act (Office of Special Counsel website) Hatch Act and Social Media Summary Email (prepared by OSC) Hatch Act and Social Media Guidance Document (prepared by OSC) The Hatch Act and Federal Employees (Poster, prepared by OSC) Lobbying Activities (10/18/11) Political Activities (4/7/10) May 2008 Memo from HHS Designated Agency Ethics Official re: Federal Agency Employee Contacts with Presidential Campaigns (transmitting the next document) April 2008 Memo from Counsel to the President re: Federal Agency Employee Contacts with Presidential Campaigns "On the Road" During the Campaign Season: A Practical Guide to Political Activity Restrictions (OGC, 5/08) Advice concerning political issues remains the purview of the HHS Office of the General Counsel, Ethics Division , or the US Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) , the agency with specific authority to oversee political activities and federal employees. Back to Top Last Reviewed: April 07, 2026