President Trump has terminated the remaining members of the federal Election Assistance Commission, multiple outlets report.
According to The Guardian, the two Democratic appointees on the commission were “notified of their terminations via email from the White House presidential personnel office.”
“On behalf of President Donald J Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service,” the email read, according to the outlet.
The lone Republican appointee resigned.
Votebeat: Trump fires all Election Assistance Commission members, leaving agency unable to act
The firings leave the federal election agency with no commissioners as Trump seeks to reshape voting rules.https://t.co/PJDvpxuGrL
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) July 9, 2026
More from The Guardian:
The Election Assistance Commission serves as a “national clearinghouse of information on election administration”, accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail-voter registration form developed by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, according to the commission’s website. The terminations follow Trump and top administration officials’ advocacy to change vote-by-mail requirements and investigations into the 2020 election outcome, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
ADVERTISEMENT“It is irresponsible and dangerous that this Administration remains dead set on causing chaos for our election officials across this country,” Arizona secretary of state Adrian Fontes said in a Thursday statement. “This move undermines the integrity of nonpartisan election administration.”
The 2002 law that established the commission, the Help America Vote Act, states the president can appoint replacements to the commission.
It is unclear how Trump will move ahead with the commission.
It is unclear if Christy McCormick, the commission’s vice chair who was selected by congressional Republicans, received the same email as the two Democratic appointees, USA TODAY noted.
Chairman Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were the two commissioners selected by congressional Democrats.
“These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, according to USA TODAY.
BREAKING: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission now has no commissioners after President Trump terminated two members and the agency’s remaining Republican commissioner resigned. The bipartisan agency was formed to help states administer accurate, secure elections.…
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) July 10, 2026
USA TODAY shared further:
A fourth position on the commission became vacant earlier this year when Republican Donald Palmer voluntarily left the agency.
To approve any actions, the commission needs agreement from three of its four commissioners. Meanwhile, it could take months to fill the vacancies.
The White House and Election Assistance Commission press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ADVERTISEMENTState and local election officials have already complained about a significant drop in assistance ahead of the midterms from some of the other federal agencies tasked with helping them provide safe and secure elections. They have also said they don’t expect federal agencies to reliably share election threats.
