Watchdogs Accuse Trump Cabinet Officials of Hatch Act Violations

Ethics watchdog groups have accused at least nine of 15 cabinet secretaries and several senior officials in the Donald Trump administration of violating the Hatch Act during the 2026 midterm elections. The allegations center on the use of official government titles at campaign rallies, the tying of personal endorsements to departmental work, and the use of taxpayer funds for political advertisements.

Specific officials named in complaints include Attorney General Todd Blanche, who allegedly boasted about federal crime drops while campaigning for a New York governor candidate, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who reportedly linked his endorsement of Senate candidate Mike Rogers to his department's work. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is accused of appearing in an official capacity at a rally for Senator Dan Sullivan, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces accusations from former national security officials of using his office to campaign in Iowa and Kentucky.

Watchdogs further allege the administration weaponized law enforcement for partisan gain, citing a raid on Representative Ilhan Omar's residence and an FBI promotional video attacking candidate Abdul El-Sayed. While the White House and various agencies dismiss these complaints as politically motivated, critics argue that enforcement has slowed since President Trump fired the head of the Office of Special Counsel.