BURSTEducation Department employees are discovering their automatic email responses during the government shutdown have been unknowingly changed to blame Democrats for the lapse in funding.
The union representing the employees confirmed the switch in language that was forced onto employees, with no current recourse to fix their emails.
“On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution," the automatic email response read when The Hill contacted the department’s press office. "Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations"
"Due to the lapse in appropriations, we are currently in furlough status," it continued. "We will respond to emails once government functions resume."
This response is similar to what the department is putting on civil servants automatic reply emails.
One employee told NBC News they tried to switch their automatic email response back to nonpartisan language, but it was quickly reverted to the department’s message, despite the federal agency supplying a nonpartisan reply template before the shutdown began.
“I took the statement that they sent us earlier in the week to use. And I pasted it on top of that — basically has a standard out-of-office,” an employee told the outlet. “They went in and manipulated my out-of-office reply."
They added, "I guess they’re now making us all guilty of violating the Hatch Act.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump administration for comment.