Federal agencies and managers across the Executive Branch may be surprised when the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) arrives to investigate a complaint of whistleblower reprisal or other alleged Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPP).

In guidance issued on Tuesday, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) clarified questions relating to use and displays of the phrase “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) while on duty or in the federal workplace. The guidance addresses two central questions: whether BLM terminology is inherently political activity and whether the Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLMGN) is a partisan political group. OSC found the answer to both questions to be no, which under the Hatch Act generally allows employees to engage in BLM-related activity while on duty or in the workplace.