WASHINGTON — The White House confirmed on Thursday that President Donald Trump has terminated the positions of three remaining commissioners at the federal Election Assistance Commission. This move comes just months before the 2026 midterm elections and follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the president broader authority to remove members of independent agencies.
Executive Action and Official Statements
The terminations affect Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland, and Christy McCormick, all of whom were unanimously confirmed by the Senate. According to individuals familiar with the decision, one Republican appointee resigned while two Democratic appointees received termination emails from the White House Presidential Personnel Office. The fourth commissioner had already departed in April.
In a statement released after Reuters’ initial report, a White House official stated that the president reserves the right to remove individuals not aligned with securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The administration cited the Supreme Court decision as precedent for this action. Officials added that they are working across agencies to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse ahead of November.
Impact on Election Administration
The Election Assistance Commission serves as a national clearinghouse for election administration information, accredits testing laboratories, certifies voting systems, and maintains the national mail voter registration form established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The commission was created to assist state officials in administering federal elections.
The removals follow increased advocacy from Trump and top administration officials regarding vote-by-mail requirements and investigations into the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which Democrat Joe Biden won. In his second term, Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the previous election was rigged.
Political Reactions
The future of the commission remains unclear under current law, which allows the president to appoint replacements but requires Senate confirmation. Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, stated in a social media post that removing every remaining commissioner months before midterms is an extraordinary step demanding immediate explanation from the administration.
