The Trump administration has effectively emptied the leadership of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a bipartisan agency focused on enhancing the smooth operation of U.S. elections. President Donald Trump removed the commission's two Democratic members, and the remaining Republican member subsequently resigned.
The EAC's stated mission is to "help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process." Its responsibilities include certifying voting systems, providing information to state election administrators, and distributing election security grants.
While the agency can continue with many of its operational tasks without confirmed commissioners, it is now unable to adopt new policies or update existing ones to address evolving needs, according to reporting by Just Security.
The removal of the EAC's leadership follows a Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Slaughter, which affirmed the president's authority to remove appointees from ostensibly independent federal agencies. This ruling has been seen as a significant expansion of presidential power and a potential pathway for increased politicization of government functions.
U.S. elections are primarily administered at the state level, which inherently limits the direct interference of the federal government. The consolidation of power within the EAC's leadership, however, removes a source of support for state election workers who are already facing significant challenges, including burnout, threats, and harassment.