President Donald Trump has removed the last members of a federal election panel that helps support elections across the United States. The move leaves the independent commission with no active commissioners only months before the November midterm elections.
The White House confirmed the decision on Friday. It said the president has the right to remove officials in the executive branch. The administration also said it is working with federal agencies and local partners to protect elections from fraud and abuse.
The decision affects the Election Assistance Commission. Congress created the agency in 2002 after the disputed 2000 presidential election. The commission helps state and local election offices improve election systems. It also certifies voting equipment, creates election guidelines, and maintains the national mail voter registration form.
The commission normally has four members. By law, two members come from the Democratic Party and two come from the Republican Party. This balance is meant to keep the agency independent and bipartisan.
The two remaining Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were removed by email on Thursday. Their departure left only one Republican commissioner, Christy McCormick, who later resigned. Another Republican commissioner, Donald Palmer, had already left the commission in April.
As a result, the Election Assistance Commission now has no sitting commissioners. President Trump has the legal authority to nominate new members, but the White House has not said when that process may begin.
The commission plays an important role in helping election officials across the country. While it does not control elections, it offers technical support, develops voluntary guidelines, and approves voting systems used by many states.
Under the US Constitution, states are responsible for running elections. The federal government has only a limited role. State election officials decide how elections are managed, while the Election Assistance Commission provides guidance and support.
The latest action follows an earlier dispute between the Trump administration and the commission. In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that called for proof of citizenship to be added to the national mail voter registration form.
The Election Assistance Commission did not fully carry out that request. Later, a federal judge blocked that part of the executive order. The court ruled that the president had gone beyond his legal authority. The Trump administration has appealed the decision.
Federal law already requires voters to confirm that they are United States citizens before voting. Voting by non-citizens is illegal. Studies and past election reviews have found that confirmed cases of non-citizen voting are rare.
The removal of the commissioners is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to change election rules before the midterm elections. The administration has supported stricter rules for voting by mail and has warned that some federal funding could be affected if states do not follow new election requirements.
Several of those policies have faced legal challenges. Courts are still reviewing some of the proposed changes.
Earlier this week, the administration also sent letters to election officials across the country. The letters warned that officials could face legal action if they fail to remove non-citizens from voter registration lists where required by law.
President Trump has defended these actions. He says stronger election rules are needed to protect election integrity and increase public confidence in the voting process.
Trump has also continued to claim that the 2020 presidential election was affected by fraud. However, courts, election officials, and independent reviews have not found evidence that widespread fraud changed the outcome of that election.
The latest decision also follows a recent ruling by the US Supreme Court. Last month, the court ruled that presidents have broader authority to remove leaders of independent federal agencies. The decision was approved by a six-to-three majority.
The court said Congress and the courts cannot prevent a president from removing executive branch officials whom the president no longer supports.
It is still unknown when President Trump will nominate new commissioners for the Election Assistance Commission. Until new appointments are confirmed, the federal agency will remain without leadership as the United States prepares for the important midterm elections later this year.
