Of inquiry requesting the President to transmit certain information to the House of Representatives referring to United States Government agencies sharing certain communications with the public and Federal employees.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 825
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-09T21:08:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (H. Res. 825) requests the President to provide specific documents and communications to the House of Representatives. Its main goal is to obtain information about federal government directives and messages issued during a potential lapse in appropriations (a government shutdown) in October 2025, focusing on whether these communications included partisan language that might violate federal laws on political activity.
Key Provisions
- Requested Documents (Item 1): All records, including meeting notes, audio, emails, texts, and digital messages, related to a directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructing federal agencies to include specific language in employee communications about a potential shutdown.
- Requested Documents (Item 2): All records related to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) posting a message on its website blaming "the Radical Left in Congress" for the shutdown and stating HUD would use available resources to help those in need.
- Requested Documents (Item 3): All records related to the Department of Education changing out-of-office email messages for furloughed employees to blame "Democrat Senators" for blocking a funding bill, leading to the shutdown.
- Requested Documents (Item 4): All communications between the Offices of the President, Vice President, Personnel Management (OPM), Management and Budget (OMB), and Special Counsel regarding whether the above shutdown-related messages from official sources violated:
- Sections 7323 or 7324 of Title 5, U.S. Code (parts of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty or using government resources).
- Section 1341 of Title 31, U.S. Code (part of the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from spending money not appropriated by Congress or obligating funds without authorization).
- Timeline and Format: The President must transmit these documents to the House within 14 days of the resolution's adoption, in complete and unredacted form, if they are in the President's possession.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws. It is a non-binding request for information (a "resolution of inquiry") under House rules, aimed at facilitating congressional oversight rather than enacting new policy or amending statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could prompt internal reviews or corrective actions at agencies like OMB, HUD, and the Department of Education if violations are uncovered, potentially leading to restrictions on future communications during shutdowns.
- On Citizens: May increase transparency about how federal agencies communicate during funding crises, helping the public understand the political context of shutdowns without direct effects on services or benefits.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the resolution focuses on domestic federal operations.
- Overall, it supports congressional accountability efforts but has limited immediate effects unless it leads to further investigations or legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House of Representatives: Sponsors (e.g., Rep. Mfume and co-sponsors) and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which will receive and review the documents.
- Executive Branch: The President, Vice President, and agencies including OMB, OPM, Office of Special Counsel, HUD, and Department of Education, which may need to compile and disclose sensitive records.
- Federal Employees: Potentially affected if inquiries reveal improper use of official channels for partisan messaging, leading to Hatch Act enforcement.
- Congressional Members and Parties: Both Democrats (many sponsors) and Republicans (implied targets of the partisan language) could face scrutiny over shutdown blame-shifting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Raises questions about compliance with the Hatch Act (banning partisan politics in official federal communications) and the Antideficiency Act (preventing unauthorized spending or obligations during lapses). If documents show violations, they could support enforcement actions by the Office of Special Counsel, such as fines or reprimands for employees.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's oversight powers under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, allowing the legislative branch to request executive branch information for accountability, though the President is not legally required to comply with non-binding resolutions.
- Political: Highlights partisan tensions over government funding disputes, potentially fueling debates on shutdown responsibility and the misuse of government platforms for political messaging. It could escalate oversight hearings but risks being viewed as a partisan tool if compliance is refused.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-10-21: Submitted in House
- 2025-10-21: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Of inquiry requesting the President to transmit certain information to the House of Representatives referring to United States Government agencies sharing certain communications with the public and Federal employees. — issued 2025-10-21 — PDF (3 pages)