• Prohibited & Permissible Activities for Public Health Service Officers

  The following are examples of activities that are prohibited for all Public Health Service officers, whether on leave, out of uniform, after work hours, on the weekend, or away from the office.

  An officer must:

  • Not run for public office in a partisan election;
  • Not take part in the management of a political party or campaign;
  • Not endorse or oppose a partisan candidate in campaign literature or advertisements;
  • Not drive voters to the polls on behalf of a political party or candidate;
  • Not serve as a delegate to a political party convention.
  • Not contribute to the authorized reelection committee of an incumbent president;
  • Not host or sell tickets to a fundraiser or otherwise engage in political fundraising;
  • Not ask anyone to give a political contribution of money;
  • Not allow his or her name to be used on an invitation to a fundraiser as a sponsor, point of contact, or as a member of a host committee;
  • Not ask a business or organization to give services or to provide volunteers;
  • Not ask a co-worker to volunteer for a partisan political campaign;
  • Not use government e-email accounts or IT equipment to send partisan political messages or to add partisan content to a political website or blog or to post, like or comment on political content on social media.
  • Not display partisan political slogans, buttons, or posters or disseminate electioneering information at the workplace or in coordination with a political campaign.
  • Not use a personal device to engage in political activity at any time in his or her official capacity (but including his or her official title/position on a personal social media profile is allowed).
  • Not like or follow the social media page of a candidate for partisan office or partisan group using his or her personal device while on duty or in the workplace.
  • Not use his or her personal device or personal social media accounts to share or retweet the social media pages or posts of a partisan group or candidate for partisan office at any time.
  • Not use personal e-mail accounts, personal social media accounts, or personal devices to distribute, send, or forward content created by a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group at any time.
  • Not use a personal device or personal social media account to engage in political activity through a medium sponsored or controlled by a political party, candidate, or partisan political group at any time.
  • Not use a personal device or a personal social media account to post or link to campaign material or the website of a party, candidate, or partisan political group at any time.
  • Not use a personal device or a personal social media account to encourage donations to a partisan political campaign through liking, sharing, retweeting, or similar actions on social media at any time.

  As long as participation in the activity would not interfere with the efficient performance of official duties, violate Public Health Service policy on authorized wearing of the uniform, or create a conflict or apparent conflict of interest, the following activities are examples of permitted for all officers.

  An officer may:

  • Register and vote in any election;
  • Be a member of a political party or other political organization;
  • Attend a political convention, rally, fund raising function; or other political gathering;
  • Sign a political petition as a private citizen;
  • Contribute money to political parties, candidates or organizations other than the incumbent president’s authorized reelection committee (subject to federal or state contribution limits);
  • Assist in nonpartisan voter registration drives (those not aimed at registering voters for one party only);
  • Express personal opinions about political subjects and candidates, if the expression is performed in a manner that does not compromise the Public Health Service’s neutrality, efficiency, or integrity, or the efficiency or integrity of the officer; is not otherwise prohibited; and is not made in concert or coordination with a partisan political candidate, campaign, party or group;
  • Be a candidate for public office in nonpartisan elections;
  • Participate in nonpartisan campaigns (such as most school board elections) where none of the candidates represents a political party;
  • Campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, and municipal ordinances;
  • Take an active part, as an independent candidate, or in support of an independent candidate, in a partisan election in localities;
  • Like or follow the social media page of a candidate for partisan office or partisan group while off duty and out of the workplace using a personal device and a personal social media account.

  Factors supporting a conclusion that an event is political:

  • Will candidates be present at the event, and if so, what is the nature of their role? If non-incumbent candidates are at the event, it is likely to be political.
  • Who else will be speaking at the event, and who will be the target audience? If party officials will be speaking to known donors, the event is most likely political.
  • Who invited the official to attend, who is organizing the event, and whether a candidate’s request is one reason for the official to attend. If the request came from campaign staff or a party organization, the event is likely political.
  • The official’s motive for attending the event. Changing the location of the official event in order to earn media for targeted incumbents would suggest a predominantly political motive for the event.
  • Whether the event is closed or open to the media. A strong media presence coupled with candidate appearances would suggest a political motive for the event.
  • The proximity of the event to the date of the election. Official events planned within 90 days of the election should receive particularly close review.
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