USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue was found to have violated the Hatch Act—which prohibits the civil service employees from engaging in political activity— by encouraging voters to support President Donald Trump during an event for the Farm to Families Food Box program.
“They and many others are going to vote for you for four more years in 2020,” said Perdue to Trump at the event. “Because they understand, under your administration, they’ve not been forgotten. And this [Farmers to Families Food Box Program] is a great example of that.”
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel ordered Perdue to reimburse the government for costs associated with the trip to Mills River, NC, on Aug. 24.
