Chicago – July 10, 2026
President Donald Trump has removed the last three members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent bipartisan agency that helps states administer elections, in a move that comes just months before the 2026 midterms. Reuters reported that two Democratic commissioners were fired by email from the White House personnel office, while the Republican commissioner resigned, leaving the panel without any sitting members.
The firings mark a sharp escalation in Trump’s push for greater federal influence over voting rules, and they follow a recent Supreme Court decision that expanded presidential authority over independent agencies. Critics warned the action could weaken bipartisan guidance on election administration at a sensitive moment for states preparing for November’s vote.
The Election Assistance Commission was created under the Help America Vote Act to support election officials, and it does not have enforcement power, but it plays a key advisory role. The White House said replacements would be named, though the timeline for new appointments remains unclear.
