Trump Eliminates Last Members of US Election Commission

In a decisive move, President Donald Trump has removed the final members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the body effectively defunct. The commission, created by Congress in 2002, has played a crucial role in assisting state and local officials in maintaining electoral integrity. Trump's decision arrives just months before the critical midterm elections in November, intensifying concerns over potential federal overreach into state-managed election processes.

The White House stated this action was necessary to ensure alignment with the administration's aim to secure America’s elections against fraud, asserting the President's authority to remove personnel not fully committed to this objective. The sudden dismissal of Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, coupled with the prior exits of Republicans Christy McCormick and Donald Palmer, leaves the commission without leadership, heightening fears about federal intervention in the forthcoming electoral cycle.

Trump's move has sparked further speculation that he may seek to influence the midterm elections, challenging the constitutionally mandated state control over election administration. The EAC's decision to resist implementing proof of citizenship requirements on voter registration forms as per a 2025 executive order, and a subsequent federal court ruling against Trump on this matter, highlight ongoing tensions between federal directives and state election autonomy.