Former George W. Bush administration ethics chief, Richard Painter, who also ran as a Democratic Senate candidate, has strongly criticized White House officials for their continued use of the "MAGA" slogan against Republicans. He believes those responsible should be terminated for this breach of ethics. This follows a determination by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that using the acronym violates the Hatch Act, which restricts government employees from engaging in political activities using public resources.

In a recent interview, Painter expressed his dismay at the White House's continued use of "MAGA," especially after Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was informed of the Hatch Act violation. He emphasized the importance of respecting the OSC's interpretation of the law and ceasing the use of the term immediately. He warned that repeated or serious violations could lead to dismissal from federal service.

The OSC's ruling came earlier this week after Jean-Pierre used the phrase "Mega MAGA" in a press briefing. Despite this, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates continued to use the term in a subsequent memo, arguing that it referred to Republican economic policies. Painter, however, countered this argument, stating that "MAGA" is intrinsically linked to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and therefore constitutes political activity.

Painter clarified that using policy-related phrases like "build the wall" would be acceptable, but "MAGA" is purely a campaign slogan and thus inappropriate for official use. He pointed out that regardless of administration – Trump or Biden – using such slogans in official capacities is a misuse of power. He highlighted the Biden administration’s frequent use of "MAGA Republicans" as a rhetorical device to criticize opponents on issues like border security and economic policy.

The OSC explicitly stated in its memo that "MAGA" is a current campaign slogan and therefore its use constitutes prohibited political activity. Federal employees are instructed to refrain from using the term while on duty, in the workplace, or in any official capacity, including social media and government websites. While the White House claims to take the Hatch Act seriously and argues that "MAGA" has been used by Republicans to refer to policy proposals, Bates himself has seemingly used the term strategically in communications, even while attempting to appear compliant with the Act. Jean-Pierre admitted the administration was unaware of the impropriety of using the term at official events.