Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has called for investigations into more than 500 Biden Administration employees who signed an open letter urging President Biden to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Rubio alleges that these employees may be using their positions in the federal government to undermine efforts to support Israel and may have potentially violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan political activities at work.

Rubio sent letters to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and U.S. Inspectors Generals, demanding that they hold Biden Administration staff accountable for their support of what he claims are pro-Hamas policies. In the letter to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Rubio urges Acting Special Counsel Karen Gorman to investigate any potential violations of the Hatch Act. He states, "If this suspicion were to be true, it would constitute a major violation of the Hatch Act, which places certain prohibitions on partisan political activities for federal employees while at work."

Rubio also sent letters to cabinet-level Inspectors Generals, requesting a full investigation into which federal employees signed the letter and how they used their roles to work against policies that support Israel. He argues that the signers could have abused their positions to carry out their self-declared goal, such as by prolonging the review periods of arms sales to Israel or denying promotion and salary increases to employees who support Israel.

The senator has called for transparency in the investigation, urging the public disclosure of the names of the employees who signed the letter and an assessment of the extent to which they have used their positions to work counter to the policies of the President.

Rubio's efforts come in response to an open letter signed by more than 500 federal employees, including political appointees and civil servants, who called on President Biden to urgently demand a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The letter raised concerns about potential insubordination and misuse of taxpayer resources by federal employees seeking to work against policies supported by Congress, the President, and the American people.

Rubio argues that if any of these employees used government-furnished equipment or salary hours to sign or share the letter, it would be a willful misuse of taxpayer money. He also suggests that employees who signed the letter may have used their positions and authorities to delay or block the implementation of the President's policies to provide assistance to Israel.

The senator emphasizes that if individuals no longer support the goals and missions of their employer, they should resign from their posts, particularly in government, where representing the will of the American people is crucial. He criticizes the anonymous nature of the letter signers, accusing them of wanting to continue enjoying the privileges of working in the U.S. government while opposing policies supported by the President, Congress, and the majority of the American people.

Rubio's call for investigations extends to employees across 40 different government agencies and political appointees confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He urges a thorough investigation to determine the identities of the employees who signed the letter and assess the extent to which they have used their positions to work against the policies of the President.

The senator concludes his letters by expressing his expectation of a prompt response from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and the Inspectors Generals. He asserts that this is an important matter that warrants attention and action.

The investigations called for by Senator Rubio will shed light on the actions of the Biden Administration employees who signed the letter, determining whether they violated the Hatch Act and to what extent they worked against policies that support the State of Israel.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-demands-investigations-into-biden-staff-ceasefire-letter/