Trump removes final members of independent US election commission

President Donald Trump has removed the last remaining members of the independent Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the federal body that supports state and local election officials, leaving the bipartisan agency with no sitting commissioners. The White House confirmed the dismissals on Friday, just months before the November midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera.

Key Facts

President Trump fired the two Democratic appointees on the EAC, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, by email on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.
The lone remaining Republican commissioner, Christy McCormick, resigned, and a fourth Republican appointee, Donald Palmer, had left in April, per Al Jazeera.
The EAC was created by Congress in 2002 to help administer elections after the disputed 2000 presidential election, and by law must have an equal number of Democratic and Republican commissioners, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The commission's duties include creating non-binding election guidelines, certifying voting systems, and maintaining the national mail voter registration form, according to Al Jazeera.
The White House stated that the president reserves the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing America's elections, and that the administration is working to safeguard elections from fraud, per Al Jazeera.
Under the US Constitution, election administration is the responsibility of states, not the federal government, as noted by Al Jazeera.

Main Story

The decision concerns the Election Assistance Commission, an independent office created by Congress in 2002 to support state and local election officials. Among its duties are creating non-binding election guidelines, certifying voting systems, and maintaining the national mail voter registration form. Four commissioners typically helm the agency. But on Thursday, the two Democratic appointees — Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland — were fired by email, according to the news agency Reuters, as reported by Al Jazeera. The lone remaining Republican, Christy McCormick, resigned. A fourth commissioner, Republican appointee Donald Palmer, had already left in April.

The commission is required by law to be made up evenly of Democrats and Republicans, and it was put in place to help after the disputed 2000 presidential election. Trump's decision to fire the remaining commissioners has further raised concerns that he may seek to intervene in the upcoming midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for the rest of his term, according to Al Jazeera.

Under the US Constitution, election administration is the responsibility of the state, not the federal government. The Election Assistance Commission had previously declined to implement part of Trump's March executive order on election security, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Why It Matters

The removal of all commissioners from the EAC effectively paralyzes the agency just as states are preparing for the 2026 midterm elections. Without commissioners, the EAC cannot certify voting systems, update voter registration forms, or issue election guidelines. This could create confusion and inconsistency across states, as they rely on the EAC for technical assistance and best practices. Critics argue that the move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to exert greater federal control over elections, despite the constitutional division of responsibilities, according to Al Jazeera.

Political Context

The dismissals come amid a series of actions by the Trump administration that have raised alarms about election integrity and federal overreach. The White House statement emphasized the administration's commitment to securing elections from fraud and abuse, but did not provide specific evidence of widespread fraud. The EAC had previously declined to implement part of Trump's March executive order on election security, which may have prompted the removals, according to Al Jazeera.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from voting rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who see it as an attempt to undermine the independence of election administration. With the midterms approaching, control of Congress hangs in the balance, and the vacancy at the EAC could become a flashpoint in the broader debate over voting access and security.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

The White House defended the removals in a statement, asserting that the president, as head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals who may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections. The statement added that the administration has been working across all agencies and local partners to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse in the run-up to the midterms, according to Al Jazeera.

Critics, including election security experts and Democratic leaders, have expressed alarm. They argue that the EAC was designed to be bipartisan and independent, and that removing all commissioners undermines its mission. Some have called for Congress to intervene or for legal challenges to the dismissals. The NAACP, in a separate but related context, has demanded investigations into federal taskforce actions in Memphis, highlighting broader concerns about federal law enforcement overreach, as reported by The Guardian.

Timeline

2002: Congress creates the Election Assistance Commission after the disputed 2000 presidential election.
April 2026: Republican commissioner Donald Palmer leaves the EAC.
July 9, 2026: Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland are fired by email; Republican Christy McCormick resigns.
July 10, 2026: White House confirms the removals, leaving the EAC with no commissioners.
November 2026: Midterm elections scheduled, which will decide control of Congress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Election Assistance Commission?

The EAC is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 2002 to help states administer elections. It issues non-binding guidelines, certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail voter registration form, according to Al Jazeera.

Why did Trump remove the commissioners?

The White House stated that the president reserves the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing America's elections. The EAC had previously declined to implement part of Trump's March executive order on election security, according to Al Jazeera.

What happens now that the EAC has no commissioners?

The agency cannot certify voting systems, update voter registration forms, or issue election guidelines. This could create confusion for states preparing for the midterm elections, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Is this legal?

The EAC is required by law to have an equal number of Democratic and Republican commissioners. The removals leave the commission vacant, which may violate the statutory requirement. Legal challenges are possible, according to Al Jazeera.

How does this affect the 2026 midterms?

Without the EAC, states may lack federal guidance on voting systems and registration. The move has raised concerns that the administration may seek to intervene in the elections, though election administration is primarily a state responsibility under the Constitution, as noted by Al Jazeera.

What Happens Next

The EAC is now effectively paralyzed, with no commissioners to carry out its statutory duties. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will appoint new commissioners or allow the vacancy to persist through the midterms. Legal challenges from voting rights groups or Democratic lawmakers are likely. The situation adds to the contentious atmosphere surrounding the 2026 elections, as debates over voting access, security, and federal authority continue to intensify. Readers should watch for further executive actions on election administration and potential congressional responses.