Trump dismisses remaining members of Election Assistance Commission
President Trump removed the last two commissioners of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, prompting criticism from Democrats and voting-rights groups as the midterm elections approach.
President Donald Trump announced the removal of the two remaining commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in the weeks leading up to the 2024 midterm elections. The dismissals left the agency without a quorum, as the third commissioner, Christy McCormick, had already resigned earlier this year.
The White House said the president "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," citing the Supreme Court’s recent Slaughter decision that expands presidential authority over independent agencies.
The EAC, created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, certifies voting equipment and issues guidelines for state and local election officials. Its four commissioners are presidential nominees confirmed by the Senate, with a statutory limit of no more than two members from the same political party.
"President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure," said Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Joe Morelle, ranking Democrats on election oversight committees.
"These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities," said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice.
"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.
A spokesperson for the EAC did not respond to requests for comment.