Imagine being told the future of your job depends on how you chose to vote in the upcoming November election.
According to the government transparency group "Cause of Action," that's exactly what John J. Hickey, deputy associate administrator for aviation safety at the FAA, and Raymond Towles, deputy director of flight standards field operations told employees at a May 23, 2012 staff meeting in Renton.
The two reportedly told subordinates, “if the Republicans win office [their] jobs may be effected [sic]…if the Democrats win office then [their] jobs would not be effected [sic],” according to a statement from Cause of Action. Hickey and Towles are also said to have made similar comments at other mandatory meetings.
If the allegations are true, the FAA may be in violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits Executive agency employees from engaging in political activity intended to affect the result of an election.
The Renton FAA office is the center for the Northwest Mountain Region, which covers, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Cause of Action has sent a request for investigation to Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Click on the link above, or the pdf in this article to read the letter, and then tell us what you think in the comment section below.
