WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump terminated the final three members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on Thursday, effectively dismantling the leadership of the independent federal body that assists election administration officials nationwide. The White House confirmed the dismissals, which come as the nation approaches the November midterm elections. According to individuals familiar with the decision, one Republican appointee resigned while two Democratic appointees were fired via email from the Presidential Personnel Office. This action follows a Supreme Court decision earlier this year granting presidents greater authority to remove members of independent agencies.
White House Justifies Moves Amid Election Security Push
A White House official stated that the President reserves the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The administration cited a recent Supreme Court decision as precedent for these terminations. Officials emphasized that the Trump administration has been working across agencies and local partners to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse, investing in infrastructure to sustain this mission specifically for the upcoming midterms.
The EAC serves as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration, accredits testing laboratories, certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail voter registration form developed under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The terminations follow advocacy by Trump and top officials to change vote-by-mail requirements ahead of the midterms. This push occurs alongside ongoing investigations into the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Commission Structure and Political Reactions
The Election Assistance Commission was established by Congress in 2002 through the Help America Vote Act. The law requires commissioners to be evenly split between two Democrats and two Republicans, with appointments requiring Senate confirmation. Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland, and Christy McCormick were all unanimously confirmed by the Senate during their tenure.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia expressed concern in a social media post on Thursday, stating that removing every remaining commissioner just months before the 2026 midterms is an extraordinary step. Warner argued that this action demands an immediate explanation from the administration and raises profound concerns about political interference in institutions supporting elections.
It remains unclear how President Trump will proceed with filling these vacancies or restructuring the commission’s operations given the current legal landscape. The terminations mark a significant shift in federal oversight of election processes, traditionally managed at the state level, as the country prepares for another critical electoral cycle.
