{"id":2874,"date":"2026-07-10T10:20:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2874"},"modified":"2026-07-10T10:20:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:20:26","slug":"trump-cleans-house-at-the-election-assistance-commission-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2874","title":{"rendered":"Trump cleans house at the Election Assistance Commission : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-132917\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 5616;&#10;        --source-height: 3744;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3744+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"From left to right: Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama talks with U.S. Election Assistance Commissioners Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland and Christy McCormick after a House hearing on May 20.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                From left to right: Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama talks with U.S. Election Assistance Commissioners Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland and Christy McCormick after a House hearing on May 20.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With just months until the midterms, President Trump relieved the remaining members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a move that drew swift condemnation from Democrats and voting rights advocates.<\/p>\n<p>An association of state election officials sent word out to its members on Thursday about Trump&#8217;s dismissals, and in a statement a White House official said the president &#8220;reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America&#8217;s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/29\/nx-s1-5816232\/supreme-court-ftc-independent-agencies-humphreys-executor\" target=\"_blank\">the Slaughter case<\/a>, the U.S. Supreme Court late last month ruled that a president has a freer hand to remove members of independent federal agencies.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5887690-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5816232\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/29\/nx-s1-5816232\/supreme-court-ftc-independent-agencies-humphreys-executor\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/29\\\/nx-s1-5816232\\\/supreme-court-ftc-independent-agencies-humphreys-executor&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3688x3688+1464+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F97%2Fa271efca4b58bcd7c67642fac7cb%2Fgettyimages-2264762066.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5887690-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The EAC moves also come as Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/25\/nx-s1-5844576\/trump-mail-in-voting-order\" target=\"_blank\">continues<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/25\/nx-s1-5869577\/trump-voting-save-america-act\" target=\"_blank\">try<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/22\/nx-s1-5866719\/save-voter-data-trump-judge-unlawful\" target=\"_blank\">influence<\/a> elections in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/16\/nx-s1-5702491\/trump-voting-threat-midterm-election-dhs\" target=\"_blank\">unprecedented ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, Trump issued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\">a 2025 executive order<\/a> that called on the EAC to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form it maintains. Judges have <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/judge-permanently-blocks-trump-eo-requiring-proof-citizenship\/story?id=134175354\" target=\"_blank\">blocked<\/a> that executive order&#8217;s main provisions, saying they exceed a president&#8217;s constitutional authority.<\/p>\n<p>The EAC was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The under-the-radar agency certifies voting systems and develops guidelines for state and local election administration, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/about\" target=\"_blank\">among its charges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5887690-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5844576\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/25\/nx-s1-5844576\/trump-mail-in-voting-order\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/25\\\/nx-s1-5844576\\\/trump-mail-in-voting-order&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3839x3839+1239+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F19%2F5cff0e76422c9c2d75650cba0811%2Fgettyimages-2269288904.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"President Trump holds up an executive order to limit mail-in voting as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick looks on in the White House\u2019s Oval Office in March.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5887690-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN 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data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3463x3463+593+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc6%2F577b72a043a0ad4e6c2719c1fe7e%2Fgettyimages-2280390136.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin speaks during a June 11 press conference.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5887690-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Its four commissioners are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. HAVA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/about\/commissioners\" target=\"_blank\">specifies<\/a> that no more than two commissioners may belong to the same political party. A Republican, Don Palmer, had already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/news\/2026\/04\/29\/eac-announces-commissioner-donald-palmer-departing-agency?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery\" target=\"_blank\">departed<\/a> earlier this year, leaving two Democratic members \u2014 Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland \u2014 and one Republican, Christy McCormick. Trump dismissed Hicks and Hovland; McCormick resigned her position.<\/p>\n<p>All three had been confirmed by the Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/about\/commissioners\" target=\"_blank\">unanimously<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the EAC did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>California U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and New York U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking Democrats on committees with jurisdiction over elections, quickly blasted the commissioners&#8217; removals.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure,&#8221; they said in a statement. &#8220;Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Michael Waldman \u2014 president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates for expanded voting access \u2014 said in his own statement that the dismissals &#8220;are deeply concerning in light of President Trump&#8217;s relentless efforts to try to interfere in elections.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Congress deliberately structured the Election Assistance Commission as a bipartisan agency to help states administer free, fair, and secure elections,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Matt Weil, vice president of governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center, noted in a statement that the EAC has operated without a quorum for much of its existence, yet he called Trump&#8217;s dismissals &#8220;unprecedented&#8221; and &#8220;a significant loss for one of the federal government&#8217;s few institutions explicitly designed around bipartisan governance.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From left to right: Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama talks with U.S. Election Assistance Commissioners Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland and Christy McCormick after a House hearing on May 20. Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images With just months until the midterms, President Trump relieved the remaining members of the bipartisan&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5616x3159+0+0\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fbe%2Fc7dac39b439e83825e8b922b446c%2Fgettyimages-2276717004.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2874\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}