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.
H. Res. 825 is a resolution of inquiry introduced in the House of Representatives. It asks the President to transmit to the House, within 14 days of adoption, copies of specific documents and communications (in complete and unredacted form) related to government-wide messaging during a potential lapse in appropriations. The four categories cover: (1) directives from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agencies about including certain language in communications to employees regarding a funding lapse; (2) a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website post alleging that “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government” and offering to use resources to assist Americans in need; (3) a Department of Education change to out-of-office auto-replies for furloughed employees referencing a continuing resolution and a lapse in appropriations; and (4) interagency communications involving the White House, the Vice President’s Office, the Office of Personnel Management, the OMB, and the Office of Special Counsel about whether such communications related to a lapse in appropriations violated specified federal statutes. The resolution is a request to the President, not a binding law, and aims to increase transparency and oversight over how federal agencies publicly frame and communicate about funding Lapses and related policy actions.
Key Points
- 1The resolution requests the President to provide, within 14 days of adoption, copies of documents and communications (unredacted) relevant to four specified areas connected to a government funding lapse.
- 2Category (1): Documents/communications about an OMB directive instructing agencies to include certain language in communications to employees about a potential lapse in appropriations.
- 3Category (2): Documents/communications about HUD’s website message alleging congressional actions caused a government shutdown and promising aid resources.
- 4Category (3): Documents/communications about the Department of Education changing auto-reply messages for furloughed employees to reference the lapse and ongoing legislative status.
- 5Category (4): Documents/communications among the White House, Vice President’s Office, OPM, OMB, and OSC evaluating whether these communications violated specific provisions of law (5 U.S.C. 7323/7324 or 31 U.S.C. 1341).
- 6The resolution is referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and is introduced in the 119th Congress; it represents a non-binding demand for information to enhance Congressional oversight.