Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro was found to have violated the Hatch Act by endorsing President Joe Biden during an official taxpayer-funded trip to the U.K., just a day after he warned Navy personnel to avoid political involvement. The Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, a line Del Toro crossed by publicly supporting Biden.

In an unclassified document titled “Guidance on Political Activities of DON Personnel,” Del Toro instructed Navy members to remain neutral, particularly during the 2024 election cycle. He emphasized that public trust in the military depends on its apolitical stance. Ironically, he violated his own guidance just one day later.

Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger noted that Del Toro’s comments during his trip violated the law. “By endorsing President Biden, Del Toro engaged in prohibited political activity in his official capacity,” Dellinger stated. The Office of Special Counsel highlighted the importance of maintaining nonpartisan federal operations.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), chairman of the Anti-Woke Caucus, blasted Del Toro and the Biden-Harris administration for eroding military trust. “The Biden administration has pushed leftist ideologies into our military institutions, and this incident is just one example,” Banks remarked.

Critics argue that incidents like this demonstrate the growing politicization of the military under the current administration, with Del Toro’s violation serving as a warning about the dangers of mixing politics with military service.