Trump Removes Remaining Members of US Election Commission

US President Donald Trump on Thursday removed the final three members of the independent Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which assists election officials nationwide.

The sole Republican appointee resigned, while the two Democratic commissioners were dismissed by email. A fourth member had already left in April, leaving the bipartisan four-member body vacant.

The move came months before the November 2026 midterm elections and followed a recent Supreme Court ruling that strengthened the president’s authority over independent agencies.

The White House said Trump had the right to remove officials who might not be aligned with the task of securing elections and ensuring that every legal vote was counted.

Critics see the decision as an attempt to increase federal influence over election processes traditionally managed by the states. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the 2020 election was rigged.

The commission was established by Congress in 2002. The three departing commissioners – Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland and Christy McCormick – had all been confirmed unanimously by the Senate.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner called the dismissals “an extraordinary step” that raised “profound concerns about political interference”.

(Reuters, Max)