Trump Restores Presidential Authority: Election Assistance Commission Cleared for Reform
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President Donald Trump has decisively removed the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, paving the way for much-needed reform and accountability within the agency.
President Donald Trump has taken bold action to ensure accountability in the Election Assistance Commission by dismissing the two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, via email on Thursday. The lone Republican commissioner, Christy McCormick, was allowed to resign, according to agency sources. Earlier this year, Republican Donald Palmer had already left the commission to join the Heritage Foundation, a respected conservative think tank. With all four seats now vacant, the commission currently lacks a quorum and is unable to conduct official business, opening the door for a fresh start.
These removals come shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the president’s authority to remove leaders of independent agencies, a decision that reinforces executive power and could bring much-needed clarity to the legal standing of bipartisan commissions such as the EAC. "It’s an open question about the EAC and the [Federal Election Commission]," said UCLA election-law professor Rick Hasen, noting that the issue remains to be tested in court.
The Election Assistance Commission, created by the Help America Vote Act after the 2000 election, is responsible for providing states with funding, maintaining the national mail-voter registration form, testing and certifying voting equipment, and issuing best-practice guidance. By law, commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with no more than two members from the same party, ensuring balanced representation. The president cannot unilaterally install replacements, preserving the Senate’s role in oversight.
With the agency temporarily on hold, routine functions such as certification of voting systems and administration of federal election-fund programs are paused. This necessary reset could allow for improvements in voter-registration forms and voting-system standards before the 2026 midterm elections. While the EAC has previously experienced periods without a quorum, this instance is a result of decisive presidential action rather than mere term expirations or resignations.
Both the White House and the Election Assistance Commission declined to comment on the dismissals, as the administration focuses on restoring integrity and efficiency to the nation’s election oversight.