New York Times: Trump Promised Seniors Drug Discount Cards. They May Be Illegal.

WASHINGTON — A month ago, President Trump surprised much of his own government when he announced in North Carolina that he would soon send $200 discount cards to more than 30 million older Americans to offset the cost of prescription drugs.

The promise set off a scramble among health and budget officials unaware that such a policy was being considered. At first, they rushed to figure out whether such a legally and logistically complicated plan could be delivered in October, as Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, had vowed in an interview the day of the speech. When many questioned its prudence before an election, they then tried to hand off the president’s $8 billion hot potato.

Now, less than two weeks before the election, officials acknowledge that Medicare recipients will not be getting their $200 cards this month. …

Under the Hatch Act, government officials are prohibited from using government resources to engage in partisan political activity, and from commanding other government employees to do so. Paul Seamus Ryan, a vice president at the government watchdog group Common Cause, said that if explicit communications surfaced linking the discount cards to the president’s re-election, health officials could face punishment.

“It is likely these are people who could face criminal and civil legal liability if they go through with this scheme and it is for a political purpose,” he said.