Trump Administration Terminates Election Assistance Commission Members, Effectively Disbanding Agency Ahead of Midterms

President Donald Trump has terminated all remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, leaving the independent federal agency without any commissioners and unable to conduct official business until new appointments are made. The move comes just months before the 2026 midterm elections and follows a Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential authority to remove officials from independent agencies.

The four-member commission, established under the Help America Vote Act to assist states with election administration, standards, and certifications, now lacks a quorum. The two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, received termination notices via email stating their positions were ended effective immediately on behalf of the president. Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned, while a fourth Republican member had departed voluntarily earlier in the year.

The terminations align with the Trump administration's broader efforts to streamline federal agencies and prioritize election security. A White House official indicated that the president reserves the right to remove individuals who may not be fully aligned with securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The action follows the Supreme Court's June ruling affirming greater executive control over such bodies.

Without commissioners, the EAC cannot approve new voting equipment standards, issue certifications, or perform other core functions that support state election officials. The agency has historically provided voluntary guidance on election administration rather than direct oversight, as states retain primary responsibility for conducting elections. Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, have described the move as disruptive and politically motivated, raising concerns about potential delays in federal support for state processes.

Supporters view the terminations as a necessary step to refocus federal resources on core priorities like voter integrity and to remove any bureaucratic resistance to administration goals. The commission's structure requires bipartisan balance, with no more than two members from the same party, and commissioners are nominated by the president with input from congressional leadership.

New commissioners would need Senate confirmation to restore the agency's operations. In the interim, states continue to manage their own election systems independently, though the absence of the EAC could affect coordination on nationwide standards and best practices. The development represents another instance of the administration exercising expanded removal powers post-Supreme Court decision to align federal entities with its policy objectives on secure and transparent elections.