President Trump on Thursday terminated the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a federal panel that assists election administration officials nationwide. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling on June 29 that granted the president expanded powers to dismiss members of independent agencies.
Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick, appointed by former President Barack Obama, were informed of their termination via email. Benjamin Hovland, appointed by Trump during his first term, was reportedly compelled to resign. A fourth commissioner, also a Trump appointee, had departed in April, leaving the bipartisan commission without any members. It remains unclear if the administration intends to appoint replacements.
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed that President Trump acted lawfully when he removed former Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that presidents should not be hindered by subordinates with whom they cannot work and that those exercising presidential power are subject to removal.
Following the ruling, President Trump described it as "the Greatest Increase in Presidential Power in the last 100 years." The EAC, according to its website, serves as a national information clearinghouse for election administration, accredits testing laboratories, certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail voter registration form.
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) expressed concern over the firings, stating that the removal of EAC members, who were unanimously confirmed by the Senate including one appointed by Trump himself, should worry all Americans. He argued that the EAC was established by Congress as an independent, bipartisan body to support secure and credible elections. Warner added that dismissing the remaining commissioners months before the midterm elections is an extraordinary step that warrants an explanation and raises concerns about political interference in election institutions.
A White House official confirmed the terminations to Reuters, stating that 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." The official also noted the administration's efforts across agencies and with local partners to safeguard elections against fraud and abuse, and to invest in strong infrastructure for the upcoming midterm elections.