Donald Trump has terminated the remaining members of the independent, federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) just months before the midterm elections, multiple outlets reported on Thursday. The EAC is a bipartisan body that assists election administration officials nationwide.
How the Terminations Occurred
The three remaining commissioners—one Republican and two Democrats—were forced out on Thursday in different ways. The Republican appointee resigned, while the Democratic appointees were notified via email from the White House presidential personnel office. The email, seen by Reuters, stated: “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 White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Role of the Election Assistance Commission
According to the EAC’s website, the commission serves as a “national clearinghouse of information on election administration,” accredits testing laboratories, certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail-voter registration form developed by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 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.
Reactions to the Firings
Arizona’s secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, criticized the move in a Thursday statement: “It is irresponsible and dangerous that this Administration remains dead set on causing chaos for our election officials across this country. This move undermines the integrity of nonpartisan election administration.”
The Help America Vote Act of 2002, which established the commission, states that the president can appoint replacements. It remains unclear how Trump will proceed with the commission.
