OPM ISSUES REGULATIONS ON POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim regulations which offer guidance regarding the political activities of federal employees. The regulations, which permit greater political freedoms outside the workplace, are a result of the Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993.

The interim regulations, which will be published on September 23, 1994, give greater freedom to federal employees to participate in our nation's political process. At the same time, the new regulations protect federal employees and the public from improper political solicitations and strengthen criminal penalties for abuses.

When President Clinton signed the bill last October, he stated, "We cannot justify the continued muzzling of millions of American citizens. Here in our own country millions of our own citizens have been denied one of the most basic democratic rights, the right to participate in the political process because of conditions that haven't existed for a very long time."

OPM Director Jim King stated, "The new regulations, will balance increased political participation, with protection against coercion, for public employees."

In addition to working voluntarily and on their own time for candidates of their choice, federal employees also are generally permitted to stuff envelopes, distribute campaign literature, and manage political campaigns. The interim regulations continue to allow federal employees to run for local office in non-partisan elections. The rules strengthen the criminal penalties for employees convicted of abusing their official position for political gain.

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