US President Donald Trump has dismissed the remaining two commissioners of the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the bipartisan agency without any serving commissioners just months before the November midterm elections, according to US media reports.
The EAC, which oversees federal election standards and supports election administration across the United States, is typically led by a four-member bipartisan panel. The two Republican-appointed commissioners resigned earlier this year, while the two Democratic-appointed commissioners were notified of their dismissal on Thursday through emails from the White House.
According to CNN, the termination notice read: “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately.”
The dismissals have drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and election officials. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes described the move as “irresponsible and dangerous,” accusing the administration of creating uncertainty for election officials ahead of the midterm polls.
Virginia Senator Mark Warner also condemned the decision, saying the removal of all remaining commissioners so close to the 2026 elections should concern Americans regardless of political affiliation and warranted an immediate explanation from the administration.
Michael Waldman, Chief Executive Officer of the Brennan Center for Justice, said the firings were deeply concerning, noting that Congress intentionally structured the EAC as a bipartisan body with no more than two commissioners from the same political party.
Established in 2002, the Election Assistance Commission certifies voting equipment and administers hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to support election administration across the country.
The dismissals come amid ongoing disagreements between the Trump administration and the commission over an executive order directing the agency to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Much of that order has been blocked by the courts.
Under existing rules, the commission requires the approval of at least three of its four commissioners to take official action. With all four seats now vacant, it could take months before the body is fully reconstituted.
Defending the decision, the White House said the president has the authority to remove officials who are not fully aligned with the administration’s objective of safeguarding US elections and ensuring that every legal vote is counted.