Federal employees can now wear political apparel to work again, including the red “Make America Great Again” hats famously tied to President Donald Trump’s campaign.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reversed previous guidance that had banned political items in federal workplaces after Election Day, citing concerns over First Amendment rights.
Return to 2020 Rules
The OSC’s April 25 advisory scraps a May 2024 directive that limited campaign-related displays in the workplace.
According to an internal Social Security Administration email viewed by Business Insider, the policy has reverted to its November 2020 form which states that with some exceptions, the Hatch Act “does not prohibit employees from wearing campaign items, like t-shirts or hats, and displaying candidate photographs while they are on duty” after Election Day.
That version allows federal employees to wear items like campaign T-shirts or hats after an election, as long as they aren’t actively engaging in political activity while on duty or in official settings.
Employees still can’t advocate for or against political parties while performing their duties, but passive displays like hats or pins are now fair game.
Pushback From Workers
The change has stirred up backlash online, especially on Reddit.
The original post that kicked off a fiery thread on the r/fednews forum sarcastically declared, “Federal employees can now wear MAGA hats at work… forget that Hatch Act.”
The user added, “Is this how they’ll determine who to fire next? All those not wearing the hats will get pink slips.”
One popular response read: “Good, I can now wear my Obama shirt,” which was quickly countered with: “No, you most certainly can’t, unless you want to find yourself dismissed for poor performance. If you want to keep your Federal job and get performance bonuses, you better display your MAGA swag.”
Another user summed up the concern even more directly: “This would be hilarious. Wearing a hat supporting someone who hates you, makes fun of you, and wants to fire you so he can privatize and make his billionaire friends richer. You can’t make this sh*t up.”
Trump 2028 Merchandise Adds to the Confusion
The debate over political expression at work comes as the Trump Organization is selling a “Trump 2028” hat for $50.
The merchandise, which includes a hat, T-shirt, and a can cooler bearing the phrase “Rewrite the rules,” is part of a promotional line despite the constitutional impossibility of a third term.
Eric Trump, pictured wearing the hat, shared it on X with the caption: “A wonderful compliment! #NeverSayNever,” quoting a conservative commentator who said it was an obvious troll.
Trump has repeatedly entertained the idea of seeking a third term, even though it would violate the 22nd Amendment.
He told NBC News he was “not joking” about the idea, adding, “A lot of people want me to do it… we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
Critics say the marketing effort underscores how Trump continues to blur the lines between politics, business, and government power.
Loyalty Signaling?
Some critics saw the rule change as a test of political allegiance.
“I guess you’ll know who the traitors are,” one commenter said sarcastically.
“So the mark of the beast?” another added.
As the Trump administration pushes broader efforts to downsize the federal workforce, including terminations and reductions-in-force, critics argue this move fits a larger pattern.
Whether the new policy results in more expressions of political belief or more workplace tension remains to be seen.
For now, the red cap is back, and it’s stirring up more than just fashion debates.