President Donald Trump has removed the remaining members of a key U.S. election agency. The decision comes months before the country’s midterm elections and has drawn strong political reactions.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — President Donald Trump has removed the remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), according to multiple U.S. media reports and a White House official. The action follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded the president’s authority to remove leaders of independent federal agencies.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were dismissed, while Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned. The commission’s fourth member, Republican Donald Palmer, had already left earlier this year, leaving the agency without any serving commissioners.
A White House official said the president has the authority to remove officials who are not aligned with the administration’s election security priorities. Democratic lawmakers criticised the move, arguing that it could weaken the independence of the federal body responsible for supporting election administration. The Election Assistance Commission helps states certify voting systems, distribute election grants and maintain the national voter registration form.
The commission was created by Congress in 2002 after the disputed 2000 U.S. presidential election to improve election administration across the country. By law, commissioners are nominated by the president and must receive Senate confirmation, with no more than two commissioners belonging to the same political party. It remains unclear when new appointments will be made.
The development means the Election Assistance Commission may be unable to carry out some of its statutory responsibilities until new commissioners are appointed and confirmed by the Senate. The decision is also expected to remain a major political issue as the United States prepares for its upcoming midterm elections.
