Trump Fires All 3 Election Assistance Commission Members Before Midterms

President Trump fired all three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission on July 9, leaving the federal agency unable to function four months before midterm elections. Two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were terminated by email from the White House. Republican Christy McCormick resigned under pressure. The move follows a June Supreme Court ruling that granted Trump power to remove leaders of independent agencies.

How the firings unfolded

The White House terminated the commissioners on July 9 using different methods. Hicks and Hovland received termination emails signed by Morgan DeWitt Snow, deputy director of presidential personnel. McCormick was allowed to resign. A fourth commissioner, Republican Donald Palmer, had already left in April to join the Heritage Foundation. The agency now has zero confirmed commissioners and cannot take official action until new members are appointed.

Why the Supreme Court decision matters

The White House cited the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Slaughter case, which held that Trump could fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter. That 6-3 decision weakened legal protections that had insulated bipartisan federal commissions from direct presidential control for decades. The White House official stated 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.”

What the Election Assistance Commission does

The EAC was created by Congress after the 2000 election to help states improve election administration without federalizing voting. Its role includes distributing federal election funds, maintaining the national mail voter registration form, testing and certifying voting systems, and offering guidance to state election officials. The agency is the only federal body devoted solely to election administration.

Democratic opposition and legal uncertainty

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the firings a “brazen attempt” to seize control of elections before ballots are cast. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, accused Trump of trying to rig the election because he fears voters will reject his policies. If terminated commissioners sue, the legal battle could enter uncharted territory, as the Slaughter precedent has not been fully tested across all agency types.

Final Thoughts

Trump’s firing of all EAC commissioners disables the only federal election administration agency four months before midterms, raising questions about voting system certification and state election support. Democrats vow to fight the move, but the recent Supreme Court ruling gives Trump legal cover.

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