US Government Shutdown: Partisan Alterations to DOE Employees’ Out-of-Office Replies Raise Concerns

On Wednesday, the first day of the US government shutdown, employees at the Department of Education (DOE) configured automatic out-of-office (OOO) email responses to notify senders that replies would be delayed until after the shutdown. However, within hours, many DOE employees discovered their OOO messages had been surreptitiously altered to include partisan language—specifically blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown—without their consent.

Unclear Perpetrator, Repeated Alterations

The identity of the individual(s) responsible for modifying the email accounts remains unknown; the incident was first reported on Bluesky by journalist Marisa Kabas. “This is deeply disturbing,” an anonymous DOE employee told WIRED, noting they were not authorized to speak to the press. Multiple sources indicated that after some employees reverted the messages to their original neutral wording, the partisan content was reinstated, suggesting coordinated or automated tampering.

Broader Agency Context: Partisan Guidance in Other Departments

As federal agencies prepared for the shutdown, many issued OOO templates. While some agencies provided neutral language explaining the shutdown, employees at the Small Business Administration (SBA) and, per sources and screenshots reviewed by WIRED, the Department of Labor (DOL), were directed to use messages explicitly blaming Democrats for the impasse.

DOE’s Original vs. Altered OOO Messages

The DOE’s Human Resources office initially provided standard neutral language for OOO replies:

“Thank you for your email. There is a temporary shutdown of the US government due to a lapse in appropriations. I will respond to your message as soon as possible after the temporary shutdown ends. Please visit Ed.gov for the latest information on the Department’s operational status.”

Employees later discovered their OOO messages had been replaced with this partisan version:

“Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed HR 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of HR 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.”

Employee Allegations of Unilateral Tampering

“Unilaterally and without staff knowledge or consent, the Department altered these messages to include partisan content,” another anonymous DOE employee alleged. They emphasized the modification violated employees’ autonomy to control official communications.

Legal Risks Under the Hatch Act

Legal experts warn the partisan language may violate the Hatch Act, which restricts political activity by federal employees. The Act has no statute of limitations, and violations can result in fines or job termination.

“I’ve never heard of a US government agency—federal, state, or local—requiring employees to use partisan language in public communications,” said Don Moynihan, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. “Beyond legality, this feels coercive and invasive. Public servants are meant to serve all constituents, not push a political agenda.”

DOE’s Official Response

When contacted by WIRED, the Department of Education’s press office provided the same altered partisan OOO message as its official response, confirming the agency had adopted the controversial template.

Note: The original article’s “Got a Tip?” section, inviting anonymous whistleblowers, has been omitted as it was not central to the DOE-specific narrative.