Trump Pushes Out Last Federal Election Assistance Commission Members — ProPublica
ProPublica — 2026-07-09 22:00:00 — www.propublica.org
Trump Removes Election Assistance Commission Members, Puts Bipartisan Agency in Limbo
President Donald Trump has pushed out the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the bipartisan agency in a state of uncertainty as he seeks to reshape the administration of elections ahead of this year’s midterms.
According to multiple sources cited by ProPublica, Trump fired Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks, the Democrats on the commission, while Christy McCormick, the Republican member, was allowed to resign. The White House did not confirm the specifics but stated that the president “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.”
Sweeping Changes to Voter Registration
In March 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing the EAC to change the national voter registration form to require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Currently, most states require voters to attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury, but do not require documentary proof. The move came after the Trump-aligned law firm America First Legal petitioned the EAC for the change. The commission had received hundreds of thousands of public comments but had not yet held a vote on the matter.
Concerns Over Bipartisan Governance
The EAC was established in 2003 to set standards for state voting systems and provide funding for upgrades. Its four-member board is designed to be evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, all nominated by the president at the recommendation of congressional leadership and confirmed by the Senate. The fourth commissioner, Don Palmer, a Republican, resigned in April. By removing the remaining members, Trump can attempt to appoint replacements who may be more receptive to his agenda.
Voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials have called the move “reckless and irresponsible.” The Bipartisan Policy Center described the departures as a “significant loss for one of the federal government’s few institutions explicitly designed around bipartisan governance.”
Fact-Check and Context
Trump’s actions and the executive order reflect his continued push for stricter voting requirements, despite a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud. The EAC’s recent history includes progress on voting machine standards and resources for election officials, often with unanimous decisions despite partisan differences. The commission has also faced criticism for partisan infighting and chronic vacancies.
Conclusion
President Trump’s removal of the EAC’s remaining commissioners and his directive to require proof of citizenship for voter registration mark a significant shift in federal election oversight. The move has drawn sharp criticism from election experts and officials concerned about the future of bipartisan cooperation and the accessibility of the voting process. As the midterms approach, the impact of these changes on election administration remains to be seen.
Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/federal-election-assistance-commission-trump-dismantled