U.S. President Donald Trump has removed the final three members of the Election Assistance Commission, an independent federal body that aids election officials across the country. The White House verified that the three remaining commissioners, two Democrats and one Republican, were ousted in varying manners, with one Republican resigning and the other two Democrats receiving termination emails from the White House Presidential Personnel Office. The fourth commissioner had already left in April.
This decision comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded the president’s authority to dismiss members of independent agencies. Trump has been advocating for increased federal involvement in election processes as the upcoming midterm elections draw near.
The terminated commissioners had been unanimously confirmed by the Senate. The Election Assistance Commission, established in 2002 following the contentious 2000 presidential election, plays a vital role in election administration, including accrediting testing laboratories, certifying voting systems, and managing the national mail voter registration form.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and election officials, have condemned Trump’s actions, labeling them as “irresponsible and dangerous.” They argue that the removal of commissioners so close to the midterm elections undermines the integrity of the electoral process and could lead to increased interference.
Trump has been pushing for stringent voting requirements, such as the inclusion of a photo ID and proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, Senate Republicans have expressed doubts about the feasibility of passing such legislation, citing concerns over potential disenfranchisement and the elimination of universal mail-in voting.
As the debate over election integrity continues, the future of the Election Assistance Commission remains uncertain, raising questions about how the agency’s work will be carried out and how federal support for election officials will be impacted.