ALCOAST 035/20 - FEB 2020 RESTRICTIONS ON OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND THE ABILITY OF UNIFORMED AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/03/2020 09:41 AM EST

united states coast guard

R 030930 FEB 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-094/CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01738//
ALCOAST 035/20
COMDTNOTE 1738 
SUBJ:  RESTRICTIONS ON OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND THE ABILITY OF
UNIFORMED AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
A. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13 (series)
B. Military Civil and Dependent Affairs, COMDTINST M1700.1 (series)
C. Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, DoD Directive 1344.10,
February 19, 2008
D. Limited Personal Use of Government Office Equipment and Services, COMDTINST
M5375.1 (series)
E. The Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. 7321-7326
F. 5 C.F.R. Parts 733-744
1. The 2020 election season is fast approaching. It is important that our members
exercise their rights and obligations of citizenship without violating Federal
statutes, regulations, and policies that prohibit official involvement, or the
appearance of official involvement, in partisan political activities (i.e.
favoring a candidate, party or cause). The Office of Governmental and Public
Affairs (CG-092) and the Office of the Judge Advocate General (CG-094) have
jointly produced guidance that addresses both the policy on official interaction
with political candidates/campaigns as well as the ability of uniformed and
civilian personnel to engage in political activities. That guidance, as well
as resources and references, is available here:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg094/cglgl/Ethics/Documents/Political Activities.
All CG members, uniformed and civilian, should have familiarity with this guidance
and use it as a resource when questions arise.
2. Individual units who have questions regarding procedures for visits by elected
officials should direct those questions to District or Area Governmental Affairs
Officers (GAO). Area and District GAOs should refer questions to the Office of
Congressional and Governmental Affairs at (202) 245-0520. All questions regarding
political activities of CG personnel should be directed to your servicing legal
office.
3. RADM S. J. Andersen, Judge Advocate General, and RADM M. Bert, Director of
Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
4. Internet release is authorized.