Education Department employees surprised to find their email automatically changed to blame Democrats for shutdown

[Crepitus]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

 

[hadit]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

Democrats are to blame for the Schumer shutdown. That's not even controversial.

 

[Seymour Flops]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

Why, how dare the Republicans use the same tactics on Democrats that were used on them for years!

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

Why would they need to "consent" if their employer words the outgoing message for their employer's email accounts? These are not their google accounts.

From your link:

adi Biedermann, the deputy assistant secretary for communications, replied: “The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government. Where’s the lie?”

Well? Where is the lie?

Here is how the employee said the new messages read:'

The altered email messages included language saying: “Thank you for contacting me. On September 10, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse of appropriations, I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.”

That is the absolute truth. How is it partisan? I thought the Democrats were proud of what they were doing? If anything, a fellow Dem getting that message should think 'tell them sister!'

Maybe it should say "I will respond to emails once government functions resume, if I'm not terminated due to not being 'essential,'" for full disclosure.

 

[1srelluc]

Even given the slight possibility of it being true.....They are .gov computers and the .gov has the final say on outgoing messages, not some mere drone.

LOL....Evidently the .gov has a "clean start" rule too.

 

[Auld Phart]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

" and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions..."


right......

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

Why, how dare the Republicans use the same tactics on Democrats that were used on them for years!

Why would they need to "consent" if their employer words the outgoing message for their employer's email accounts? These are not their google accounts.

From your link:

adi Biedermann, the deputy assistant secretary for communications, replied: “The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean CR and fund the government. Where’s the lie?”

Well? Where is the lie?

Here is how the employee said the new messages read:'

The altered email messages included language saying: “Thank you for contacting me. On September 10, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse of appropriations, I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.”

That is the absolute truth. How is it partisan? I thought the Democrats were proud of what they were doing? If anything, a fellow Dem getting that message should think 'tell them sister!'

Maybe it should say "I will respond to emails once government functions resume, if I'm not terminated due to not being 'essential,'" for full disclosure.

Well the problem begins with "Thank you for contacting me" and then proceeds to impersonate the email sender.

While the rest of it is an interpretation of the situation from the "employer's" (government's) perspective, had they not impersonated their workers, while the veracity of the statement could still be debated, it wouldn't smell so much of a fraudulent act.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Well the problem begins with "Thank you for contacting me" and then proceeds to impersonate the email sender.

While the rest of it is an interpretation of the situation from the "employer's" (government's) perspective, had they not impersonated their workers, while the veracity of the statement could still be debated, it wouldn't smell so much of a fraudulent act.

I see your point, but it is not a very strong one.

The person who emailed them was not contacting them as private citizens, but as employees of the federal government, specifically the executive branch. So the "me" should mean "Me, a representative of the Department of Education," not "me, just call me Joan, a strong independent woman with my own set of beliefs that I'd like to share with you."

But even if I agree that they should not use "me" what is the harm to the person? There is nothing untrue or defamatory in that statement.

I suppose the employee who truly disagrees with this should simply take a principled stand and resign. If they are not at work, they were not essential anyway, right?

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

You don't own that email account.

 

[Crepitus]

Why, how dare the Republicans use the same tactics on Democrats that were used on them for years!

Well that's a lie.

Seems like that's just about all you guys have these days.

 

[Winco]

Democrats are to blame for the Schumer shutdown. That's not even controversial.

Who wrote......Art of the Deal?

Deal maker fails once AGAIN.
If you can't make a Deal, just blame the Democrats.

We knew this would be the game plan.

 

[Rawley]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

Bullshitty.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Democrats are to blame for the Schumer shutdown. That's not even controversial.

Yes, Republicans have the Presidency, the House, the Senate AND the Supreme Court. But it's the Democrats' fault.

If you're the party in charge, and you need votes from someone else, you can't just bully them. You have to work WITH THEM. The Reps aren't doing that.

They know they need 60 votes, they can't get that. It's on the Reps.

 

[scruffy]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low.

They get the official corporate line. Pretty much standard corporate policy. The same thing happens to the nurses when they go out on strike. They get on Facebook and yap about it.

 

[scruffy]

had they not impersonated their workers, while the veracity of the statement could still be debated, it wouldn't smell so much of a fraudulent act.

The government is not required to notify its employees whenever there's a change in policy.

 

[SmokeALib]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

Oh, oh.

 

[Rogue AI]

Yes, Republicans have the Presidency, the House, the Senate AND the Supreme Court. But it's the Democrats' fault.

If you're the party in charge, and you need votes from someone else, you can't just bully them. You have to work WITH THEM. The Reps aren't doing that.

They know they need 60 votes, they can't get that. It's on the Reps.

The House passed a clean bill, Senate Democrats are holding up the bill. Trump isn't a factor until a bill hits his desk. This is 100% Schumer's shutdown.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

This is dirty... underhanded,,, just plain low. They changed the wording of furloughed education department staff to blame Democrats for the trump shutdown.

It's a sign of desperation. They know they are really at fault, and they know the rest of us know it as well.

Five furloughed employees told NBC News they had put up nonpartisan out-of-office messages, only to see they were changed — without their permission — to partisan ones.

Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions...

One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later...

“None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity.

“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” another one of the Education Department employees said. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply. I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”

They shouldn’t be surprised – they should know Trump is a liar and partisan hack.

 

[wamose]

Who wrote......Art of the Deal?

Deal maker fails once AGAIN.
If you can't make a Deal, just blame the Democrats.

We knew this would be the game plan.

So, if you knew this would happen, why the hell did you shut down the government?

 

[wamose]

Yes, Republicans have the Presidency, the House, the Senate AND the Supreme Court. But it's the Democrats' fault.

If you're the party in charge, and you need votes from someone else, you can't just bully them. You have to work WITH THEM. The Reps aren't doing that.

They know they need 60 votes, they can't get that. It's on the Reps.

This is classic Democrat obstruction.

 

[hadit]

Yes, Republicans have the Presidency, the House, the Senate AND the Supreme Court. But it's the Democrats' fault.

If you're the party in charge, and you need votes from someone else, you can't just bully them. You have to work WITH THEM. The Reps aren't doing that.

They know they need 60 votes, they can't get that. It's on the Reps.

And every time the democrats are in charge and the Republicans allow a government shutdown because they want concessions in spending bills, the democrats and their trained seals on here blame...wait for it...yes, you are correct...almost there...keep reading, it's worth it...REPUBLICANS!!!

No, this is the Schumer shutdown. They probably did not stop to consider how alliterative that is but can't escape it now.