The Trump administration is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown in internal federal agency communications as well as public agency websites, in what experts say could be a violation of federal ethics laws.

A bright red banner and pop-up message first appeared Tuesday on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's website. It was updated early Wednesday morning and warns: "The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need."

Wednesday morning, a banner added to the top of Department of Justice websites reads "Democrats have shut down the government" with a link to its shutdown plans.

Staffers at multiple agencies and Cabinet departments received emails on Tuesday from the White House Office of Management and

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