Senator Ted Cruz has requested a federal watchdog investigate if the Biden administration is breaching the Hatch Act by using taxpayer money to promote its 2021 infrastructure law. Cruz claims that the administration has politicized the law by encouraging funded projects to display signs crediting President Joe Biden, featuring large text saying, “Project Funded By President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
Although it’s common for presidents’ names to appear on project signs, Cruz argues that Biden’s approach is excessive, rebranding the law as “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” Cruz has asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate this as a potential violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits using taxpayer funds for campaign activities. He asserts that Congress, not Biden, authored the infrastructure law and did not intend for it to support the President’s reelection campaign.
White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson defended the signs, stating they promote transparency by informing taxpayers about federal spending. Patterson also criticized Cruz for opposing the infrastructure law, which aims to improve essential services in Texas.
The Department of Transportation, responsible for most of the infrastructure funds, did not comment. Cruz also criticized the “INVESTING IN AMERICA” logo, claiming it was designed to resemble the Biden-Harris campaign logo. The White House did not respond to this accusation.
These spending laws, including the infrastructure law, are central to Biden’s case for reelection. Despite bipartisan support for the infrastructure law, many voters remain unaware of it. A POLITICO-Morning Consult poll revealed that only 46% of voters had heard about the law, and Biden has a slight edge over Trump in promoting infrastructure improvements.
Cruz also raised First Amendment concerns, claiming the sign guidelines force others to deliver a political message. In a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Cruz questioned if the OMB’s guidelines could be considered a “rule” under the Congressional Review Act, allowing Congress to overturn executive branch regulations.
