White House cabinet members will be barred from speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia later this month.
The prohibition is meant to prevent the perception that the Obama administration’s final months will be spent in service to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, according to a New York Times report.
At least two cabinet members, Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Housing Secretary Julian Castro, are rumored to be contenders for Clinton’s vice presidential pick.
Perez endorsed Clinton in December, and has already campaigned for her. He has made a series of recent media appearances on her behalf, including interviews on the Sunday talk shows.
Castro was one of the first names to surface as a potential running mate for Clinton.
News of the ban on convention speeches for cabinet members comes even as Obama himself plans to campaign with Clinton Tuesday in North Carolina.
White House officials reportedly said the move to downplay the administration’s visibility in Philadelphia is part of an effort to keep the White House above the 2016 fray. Administration officials must follow laws that require the separation of political and government activity.
