Federal court rebukes Education Department for First Amendment violation in partisan emails

A federal judge has ruled that the Education Department violated the First Amendment by inserting partisan language into furloughed employees’ out-of-office emails, framing the shutdown as the fault of “Democrat Senators.” The decision, arising from an AFGE lawsuit, reinforces constitutional protections against compelled political speech, restores neutrality in government communication, and highlights tensions amid the ongoing federal shutdown.