Rule to Allow DC Federal Workers to Run for Local Office

A new proposed federal rule may allow federal workers in Washington, D.C. to run for local office in the District.

Government workers would have to run as independents and would not be able to engage in political activities while on the job. They would be able to accept contributions, though.  

According to The Hill, Congress gave the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the rulemaking authority in December in legislation that amended the Hatch Act, which prevents “civil servants from engaging in partisan political behavior.”

OPM published the rule in the Federal Register on Friday, determining that it was in the “domestic interest of federal employees residing in the District of Columbia to participate in these political activities,” and the agency will take comments from the public for the rule for the next 60 days.