A federal judge ruled Friday that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment rights of some agency employees when it sent out-of-office messages on their behalf that blamed Democrats for the government shutdown.
The ruling from US District Judge Christopher Cooper is the latest court rebuke of controversial moves by the Trump administration during what has now become the longest shutdown in US history.
Cooper, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, said the department had unconstitutionally compelled its employees’ speech when it tinkered with the out-of-office messages for furloughed workers so that they included language blaming the shutdown on “Democrat Senators” who “are blocking” passage of a “clean continuing resolution” that would fund the government.
Government employees have freedom of speech in official communication? Like yeah it’s messed up, but I’ve always heard that you’re not allowed to make political statements at all. Kind of weird that this is the basis for their argument, and not whatever law it is that prohibits political statements.
True, but in this situation the government is making a statement as them on their behalf against their will. It’s different than telling them not to say something.