Donald Trump removes final members of independent US election commission

President Donald Trump has removed the final members of the independent Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the bipartisan federal body vacant. The White House confirmed the dismissals on Friday, stating the President reserves the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing elections. The EAC, created in 2002 to support election officials, had its two Democratic appointees fired by email, while the remaining Republican commissioner resigned. This action comes as the administration claims to be safeguarding elections from fraud and abuse ahead of the midterm elections. The commission is legally required to have an even number of Democratic and Republican commissioners.

President Trump has terminated the remaining three commissioners of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent federal body that aids election administration nationwide. The terminations occurred on Thursday, with one Republican appointee resigning and two Democratic appointees being notified via email from the White House. The EAC's responsibilities include serving as a national information clearinghouse, accrediting testing laboratories, certifying voting systems, and maintaining the national mail-voter registration form. These actions come months before the midterm elections and follow previous advocacy by the administration regarding vote-by-mail and investigations into the 2020 election. State officials have expressed concern that this move could undermine nonpartisan election administration and cause chaos.

President Trump has removed the three remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC) ahead of the midterm elections. The two Democratic commissioners, Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks, were fired, while the Republican commissioner, Christy McCormick, was allowed to resign. This action leaves the agency in limbo, prompting concern from voter advocacy groups and Democratic officials who view the move as "reckless and irresponsible." A White House official stated the president has the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing elections. The EAC, established in 2003, sets standards for voting systems and provides funding. Trump's administration has previously directed the EAC to consider changing the national voter registration form to require proof of citizenship.

A ProPublica investigation reveals that Donald Trump has significantly weakened the institutional guardrails that protected the 2020 election. Many career officials who previously ensured election integrity have been replaced by appointees, some of whom have promoted debunked conspiracy theories. This shift raises concerns among experts about the potential for these individuals to control the narrative surrounding the upcoming midterm elections and undermine voter confidence. In 2020, federal officials, including Trump appointees, resisted pressure to overturn the election results. However, since then, significant changes have occurred at federal agencies responsible for election security, leaving them potentially more vulnerable to undue influence.