Trump ousts federal election commission, sidelines Simon
The White House removed all three sitting commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission effective July 9, 2026, leaving the agency without a quorum and unable to act.[1]
Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were notified of their firings by email, while Republican Christy McCormick was permitted to resign.[1] Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who sat on the EAC board of advisors, said the removals will hamper the agency's work but he does not foresee immediate effects on Minnesota's election administration.[1]
On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court in Trump v. Slaughter ruled that for-cause removal protections for independent-agency commissioners violate the separation of powers. The decision overturned Humphrey's Executor and gave the president broader authority to remove officials at independent agencies. President Trump in March 2025 ordered the EAC to add proof-of-citizenship requirements to the federal voter registration form, a change the commission never fully implemented. Republican commissioner Donald Palmer left the agency in April 2026, leaving three Senate-confirmed commissioners to oversee voting system standards and grants.
The EAC was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and is structured around four commissioners who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Its FY2027 budget request is $23.86 million for 68 full-time staff, and duties that need commissioners include updating voluntary voting system guidelines, accrediting test labs, and certifying voting machines. Election law scholars and county clerks warned on social media that the removals could presage a federal assertion of power over elections and that replacing commissioners requires Senate confirmation, not an executive fiat.
The mainstream summary does not address the broader implications of the EAC's removal of commissioners, particularly the concerns raised by election law experts and local officials about a potential federal takeover of election administration. For instance, @BarbByrum, an Ingham County Clerk, characterized the White House's actions as a 'declaration of war on democracy,' suggesting that this could lead to significant shifts in how elections are managed at the federal level. Additionally, the summary overlooks the fact that the EAC has operated without a quorum for approximately 18% of its existence since its establishment in 2002, indicating that such vacancies are not unprecedented but can have serious consequences for election oversight and administration. This context is crucial, as it highlights the agency's historical challenges and the potential for further disruption in the lead-up to the 2026 elections, especially given the current political climate and the Supreme Court's recent ruling that enhances presidential authority over independent agencies.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and maintains a four-commissioner structure with no more than two from the same party; commissioners are nominated by the president after recommendations from congressional leaders and require Senate confirmation.
About the EAC — U.S. Election Assistance Commission
The EAC's FY2027 budget request is $23.86 million supporting 68 full-time equivalent staff; its core functions requiring commissioner approval include adopting updates to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, accrediting testing laboratories, and certifying voting systems.
EAC FY2027 Congressional Budget Justification Report — U.S. Election Assistance Commission
The EAC has operated without a quorum for approximately 18% of its existence since 2002 and without any commissioners for extended periods, including from 2011 until late 2014, with an executive director retaining limited operational authority during such vacancies.
The Election Assistance Commission Has a Vacancy. Now What? — Bipartisan Policy Center
📌 Key Facts
- The White House removed all three sitting U.S. Election Assistance Commission members effective July 9, 2026, leaving the body without a quorum or ability to act.
- Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were notified of their firings by email; Republican commissioner Christy McCormick was permitted to resign.
- Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a member of the EAC Board of Advisors, was among those removed and warned the decision will hamper the EAC’s work, though he does not foresee immediate effects on Minnesota’s election administration.
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