Trump administration removes remaining Election Assistance Commission members before midterms
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- Leaving the Election Assistance Commission vacant before the 2026 midterms weakens election administration support that states and officials rely on for stability and confidence.
- The split
- Both condemn the purge — they differ on what kind of damage it does.
This is less a fight over one agency than over whether the bigger harm is weaker election confidence or reckless institutional stewardship.
The Facts
- The Trump administration removed the remaining three members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the agency with no sitting commissioners.
- Two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were terminated, while Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned.
- The Election Assistance Commission is an independent, bipartisan federal agency that assists states and election officials with administering elections.
- The commission's responsibilities include certifying voting systems and maintaining the national mail voter registration form.
- The removals occurred months before the 2026 midterm elections.
- The commission had four seats, and the fourth commissioner had already left earlier this year or in April, which is why removing the remaining three left the body vacant.
- The commission does not run state ballots or voter rolls directly, but it provides election officials with guidance, training, certification programs, and other support tied to election administration.
- Multiple reports said it was unclear when or whether President Trump would appoint new commissioners or how the agency would be reconstituted.
Context
What does the Election Assistance Commission do?
The EAC is a federal agency created to help states and local officials administer elections. Its work includes certifying voting systems, accrediting testing laboratories, maintaining the national mail voter registration form, distributing grants, and providing guidance and training to election officials DT News,POLITICO,CNN International.
Why does the loss of all commissioners matter if states run elections?
States administer their own elections, but the EAC supports that work through leadership over certification, guidance, grants, and election-administration programs. With no commissioners in place, the agency is left without its governing leadership as the midterms approach Aol,POLITICO,CNN International.
What remains unresolved after the removals?
Reports said the White House confirmed the departures, but it was not clear when or how the commission would be rebuilt or whether new commissioners would be nominated before the midterms DT News,NY Post,Bloomberg Business.
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