Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act

The Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act seeks to enhance the Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) accountability and transparency in enforcing the Hatch Act. It introduces specific definitions for "career employee" and "noncareer employee," which are central to its new reporting and disclosure requirements. The bill aims to ensure vigorous and consistent enforcement, irrespective of an individual's political affiliation or career status. A key provision requires the Special Counsel to submit semi-annual reports to Congress detailing complaints referred for disciplinary action, specifically identifying the name and position of employees, and distinguishing between career and noncareer employee personnel. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual report to Congress focusing on covered allegations against noncareer employees and former noncareer employees. This report must include the number of allegations received and investigated, along with a confidential addendum providing names and outcomes for non-investigated cases. To bolster public transparency, the Act amends existing law to require the Special Counsel to publish a detailed written explanation for any decision not to present a complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board against certain noncareer employees found to have violated the Hatch Act. This provision excludes Senate-confirmed presidential appointees unless they are in the Foreign Service. Additionally, the bill directs the Special Counsel to track, publish, and maintain on its official website anonymized demographic information , including race, sex, and ethnicity, for both career and noncareer employees involved in Hatch Act allegations, investigations, and complaints. This data, organized by fiscal year, must remain accessible for at least ten years, promoting a clearer understanding of enforcement patterns across different employee groups.