Social media, the Hatch Act, and talking about your NIH outside of your official capacity

The Hatch Act restricts certain political activities of Government employees. While these rules generally do not apply to trainees and fellows appointed as IRTAs, CRTAs, and Visiting Fellows there are some general restriction to be aware of. For example, you may not engage in partisan political activity in the workplace and you may not use your government email or affiliation when involved in partisan political activities outside of the workplace. Email the OITE at [email protected] with questions regarding the Hatch Act in the workplace.

NIH trainees and fellows may not speak on behalf of the NIH without prior approval. This includes doing media interviews, publishing articles, blogs or podcast using your NIH affiliation, or giving a talk about your training experience or work at NIH at an outside institution.

You must seek permission to perform an activity as an official duty; this must be done in advance with sufficient lead time (typically one-month or greater). If permission is granted, all materials may need to be approved in advance by relevant supervisors as noted in the approval process. You should also be clear about your role at NIH and avoid making comments regarding NIH policy or offering expert advice on or NIH training programs the application process.

You should seek immediate guidance before accepting media interviews about NIH-related business. If you give an interview about non-related activities be clear that you are speaking in a personal capacity and limit information about your NIH position. If you choose to share that you are currently a trainee or fellow at the NIH, it is important to remember the “rule of threes” and share your NIH position as part of at least three general biographical descriptors.

It is also important to include a disclaimer that you are not speaking on behalf of NIH. For example, “I am a computational biologist who majored in biology and am currently a fellow at the NIH. I am sharing my own opinions and am not speaking on behalf of the NIH.” if you do not mention your NIH affiliation, you do not need to include any disclaimer.

If you are invited to speak or serve on a panel at your alma mater, at a local educational institution, or as part of a non-profit organization promoting STEM career, and participate as an outside activity, you should follow similar guidelines. Remember the “rule of threes” and include a disclaimer that you are sharing personal opinions and not speaking on behalf of the NIH.

We are happy to offer guidance and will help you make the best decisions that allow you to participate in activities that are meaningful to you. Reach out to us at [email protected] before you move forward.

Social media can be a great way to share opinions and stay in touch with friends and family. Social media also presents opportunities to share your research with others. However, social media use also presents risks, personally and to the NIH. Please read Guidance on Private Account Social Media Use for Individuals at NIH before including your NIH affiliation in your social media accounts. For personal accounts, where you choose not to list your NIH affiliation in the biography section, you should avoid prominently featuring photos or logos of the NIH.

For professional networking sites, you may wish to include your NIH affiliation in the biographical information your provide. This is acceptable as long as you add a disclaimer noting that you are not speaking on behalf of NIH and that the opinions and posts you share are your own. Appreciate that even with this disclaimer, members of the public may reach out to us with concerns regarding your online behavior. Be thoughtful regarding what you post, and how you express opinions, or you may be found in violation of NIH social media policies.

We are happy to offer guidance and will help you make the decisions that allow you to participate in activities that are meaningful to you. Reach out to us at [email protected] before you move forward.

Reach out to [email protected] with questions.