On Thursday, President Donald Trump dismissed the remaining three members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), effectively paralyzing the agency. This commission is the only federal body dedicated to managing election administration.
Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were notified of their dismissal via email, with their tenures terminated immediately. Republican Christy McCormick was permitted to resign, while a fourth commissioner, Donald Palmer, had already stepped down voluntarily.
With no members remaining, the commission is now unable to make any decisions. Appointing new members will require presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. By law, the commission cannot have more than two members from the same political party.
The commission was established following the 2000 elections to assist states in improving their electoral processes. It distributes federal funds, maintains registration forms, and tests voting systems. The suspension of the agency's work could hinder the certification of voting equipment and preparations for the 2026 elections.
The Supreme Court recently expanded the president's authority to remove heads of independent agencies. It remains unclear whether this ruling applies to bipartisan election bodies. Should the dismissed members take the matter to court, it would serve as the first test of this new legal precedent.
