Trump Dismisses Remaining Election Assistance Commission Members
On Thursday, President Trump terminated the last members of the federal commission that supports election officials nationwide, following a significant Supreme Court decision that empowered the independent agency to dismiss its members more freely.
Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick, who were appointed to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) by former President Obama, received their termination notices via email. Benjamin Hovland, who was brought on board by Trump himself during his first term, was also pressured to resign. Notably, the agency’s fourth director, appointed by Trump, had already resigned in April.
With these layoffs, the bipartisan EAC now lacks any commissioners, putting its future in jeopardy. It’s uncertain whether Trump will seek to fill these vacancies.
The email from the White House’s Office of Presidential Personnel indicated, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I would like to inform you that your service as a member of the Campaign Assistance Committee will be terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.”
This series of firings follows the Supreme Court’s June 29 ruling which overturned previous limitations on a president’s ability to dismiss independent government officials without providing a reason.
In a decisive 6-3 judgement, the court affirmed that Trump acted within his rights when he previously let go of former Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that “neither Congress nor the courts can compromise” the president’s authority over his subordinates.
On social media, Trump hailed the ruling as “the greatest increase in executive power in the last 100 years,” and described it as crucial at this time.
As defined by the EAC’s website, the commission acts as the “National Clearinghouse for Election Administration,” responsible for certifying testing laboratories, voting systems, and overseeing the National Postal Voter Registration Form established by the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.
Trump has consistently claimed that the 2020 election was fraudulent, advocating for tighter controls on mail-in voting, national voter ID requirements, and even considering the federalization of elections during his second term.
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) voiced that Trump’s actions concerning the EAC should alarm the public. He stated, “Reports that the White House has fired the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, including some appointed by President Trump himself, all of whom were unanimously approved by the Senate, should concern all Americans regardless of party.” Warner expressed the need for the administration to clarify the decision, especially with the midterm elections approaching.
A White House representative confirmed the dismissals, asserting that Trump “reserves the right to remove individuals who may not fully agree with the important mission of securing America’s elections.” The official added that the administration is committed to collaborating with various agencies to bolster election integrity and develop robust infrastructure as the midterms draw near.
