President Donald Trump has removed the remaining commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, leaving the bipartisan federal agency without leadership just months before the 2026 midterm elections. The White House confirmed the dismissals of the two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Ben Hovland, while the commission's lone Republican member, Christy McCormick, was permitted to resign. A fourth commissioner had previously departed in April, resulting in a total vacancy of the agency's leadership board.
The Election Assistance Commission serves as a key resource for states, providing guidelines on voting policies, equipment certification, and election administration best practices. While the agency's standards are voluntary, they are widely used by states as benchmarks for purchasing and testing voting technology. The sudden removal of the commissioners has raised immediate questions regarding the agency's ability to function, as it currently lacks the quorum required to take official actions or approve new policy decisions.
Reports indicate that the White House had spent months exploring ways to bypass the commission to implement changes to voting machines and address other administrative priorities. Some administration officials had expressed frustration with what they characterized as the agency's slow pace in updating voting guidelines. The White House stated that the president reserves the right to remove individuals who are not aligned with the administration's goals for securing elections.
While the agency remains operational, the lack of a quorum prevents it from conducting new business. Legal experts note that the commission's executive director may still be able to perform certain official acts, and much of the preparatory work for the 2026 midterms has already been completed. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and election officials who warn that the loss of bipartisan leadership could create a resource gap and undermine confidence in the electoral process as the midterms approach.