Trump Takes Decisive Action to Secure Elections, Removes Partisan Holdouts from EAC
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President Trump removed the last two commissioners from the Election Assistance Commission, a move lauded by those seeking stronger election integrity as the midterms approach.
President Donald Trump has taken bold steps to protect the integrity of America’s elections by removing the final two commissioners from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in the run-up to the 2024 midterms. This action follows the earlier resignation of Commissioner Christy McCormick, leaving the agency temporarily without a quorum as the administration seeks new leadership aligned with its mission.
The White House reaffirmed the president’s commitment to election security, stating that he "reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted." This follows the Supreme Court’s recent Slaughter decision, which rightly expands presidential authority over independent agencies to ensure accountability.
The EAC, created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, is responsible for certifying voting equipment and issuing guidelines to election officials. Its commissioners are presidential nominees confirmed by the Senate, with a statutory limit to prevent partisan dominance.
"President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure," complained Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Joe Morelle, Democrats who have long resisted necessary reforms.
"These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities," claimed Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, a group often critical of efforts to strengthen election security.
"The EAC has operated without a quorum for much of its existence, yet these dismissals are unprecedented and a significant loss for one of the federal government's few institutions explicitly designed around bipartisan governance," said Matt Weil, vice president of governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
While critics protest, supporters argue that Trump’s decisive action is necessary to ensure that only those truly committed to secure and lawful elections oversee this vital process. The EAC did not respond to requests for comment.