Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro found himself on the wrong side of federal law after endorsing President Joe Biden for re-election during an official taxpayer-funded trip to the U.K. The endorsement violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while performing their duties.
The Office of Special Counsel revealed this week that Del Toro “crossed a legal line” when he publicly supported Biden, a move that came just one day after Del Toro warned Navy personnel to remain apolitical. In his memo, Del Toro reminded sailors that the Navy is an “apolitical body” and must avoid any actions that imply political endorsement.
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger explained that Del Toro’s remarks during his trip were clearly partisan, thus violating the Hatch Act. “Del Toro engaged in prohibited political activity by endorsing one candidate over another,” Dellinger stated.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) criticized the incident, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of politicizing the military. “Trust in our military is at an all-time low, thanks to this administration’s willingness to push its ideology into our defense institutions,” Banks said.
The citation against Del Toro has reignited concerns about the growing influence of politics in the military. Critics argue that stricter enforcement of the Hatch Act is necessary to preserve the integrity and neutrality of federal institutions, particularly as the 2024 election season approaches.
