Trump Removes Remaining Officials From Federal Election Assistance Commission

Overview

• The White House notified the two remaining Democratic commissioners by email that their terms were ended with immediate effect, leaving the EAC without functioning leadership.
• The dismissals follow a Supreme Court ruling that broadened presidential removal power for leaders of independent agencies and came days after that decision.
• The EAC cannot act without three of its four commissioners, and its key duties include voluntary voting-system certification, lab accreditation, maintaining the national mail voter-registration form, and sharing election security information with states.
• Senators and state election officials from both parties expressed alarm and demanded an explanation, and the White House said the president may remove officials not fully aligned with its election-protection goals.
• Any restoration of the commission requires presidential nominations and Senate confirmations under a statutory partisan balance, leaving timing and the agency’s ability to support states before November unclear.