Political Activity and Social Media

• The Hatch Act prohibits a Postal Service employee from using his or her personal email account or social media account to engage in political activity while on duty, in a postal building or room, while wearing a uniform or insignia, or while in a postal vehicle.
• Even when you’re on a break and using your own device, you may be violating the law.

Political activity in these settings can offend our customers and undermine the public’s trust in the Postal Service.

Keeping political activity in its place is smart business.

Contact the Ethics Office (ethics.help@usps.gov) for more information about the Hatch Act.

But is it Google-able?

If Postal Service records or information is available on a postal public website or through a postal news release, you cannot withhold the record or information in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

A vast array of postal records and information is available on usps.com, prc.gov, and uspsoig.gov.

Received a FOIA request? Google the record or information requested and release it to the requester if it’s already in the public domain.
Countless work hours are spent on FOIA lawsuits in U.S. District Court. Avoiding litigation is smart business.

Contact the Privacy and Records Management Office for guidance.