Reading Room Document

Advice as to whether section 603(b) of the Economic Opportunity Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2943(b), authorizes the Office of Economic Opportunity to suspend summarily assistance to a community action agency as a means of enforcing section 603(a), which ma

The document discusses the interpretation of section 603(b) of the Economic Opportunity Act, specifically regarding the authority of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to enforce the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activities by employees of community action agencies. The document presents a dispute between OEO and the Civil Service Commission over the extent of OEO's authority to enforce the Hatch Act. It also raises questions about the interpretation of the language in section 603(b) and the potential constitutional implications of OEO's authority to summarily suspend assistance in cases of Hatch Act violations. The conclusion reached is that OEO's authority under section 603(b) is available equally for all violations, but the document leaves open the question of OEO's authority to require grantee agencies to discharge or discipline employees responsible for violations.

January 18, 1969