Former President Donald Trump faces allegations of attempting to manipulate the upcoming U.S. midterm elections following his dismissal of the last three members of an independent federal commission responsible for overseeing election administration.
This unprecedented action effectively cripples the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the sole federal agency dedicated to managing election processes, just months ahead of the midterm elections.
Opponents, including prominent Democratic leaders, have pledged to counter the Trump administration’s moves aimed at increasing federal control over the electoral process. Trump continues to advocate for the Save America Act, a conservative reformation of election procedures that would introduce new voting restrictions.
Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, remarked, “Donald Trump understands that voters will reject his agenda in November. The economy is in turmoil, he is instigating conflicts that lead to American casualties, and his militarized ICE operations are instilling fear in our communities. Trump is afraid of the democratic power we all possess as voters, which is why he is attempting to manipulate this election.” He further declared, “Mr. President, your strategy is destined for failure. If you believe the American public will accept authoritarianism, you are gravely mistaken. The NAACP will mobilize efforts to ensure our voices are heard at the polls.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s actions as a “brazen attempt” to seize control of the electoral process, linking it to Trump’s earlier suggestion that Republicans should “take over the voting.” Schumer stated on social media, “Firing all remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission just months before the midterms is a blatant effort to control our elections ahead of any voting taking place. He is dismantling the independent body that certifies voting systems and assists election officials in ensuring secure elections.” He emphasized, “Senate Democrats will oppose this power grab at every opportunity. It is the American people, not Donald Trump, who will determine the outcome of the 2026 elections.”
The commission’s two Democratic members, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, received emails on Thursday notifying them of their immediate termination. The last remaining Republican member, Christy McCormick, was encouraged to resign instead of being dismissed outright, while a fourth position had been vacant since Donald Palmer’s departure earlier this year to join the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The White House has defended the president’s authority to remove officials who do not align with his vision for election security, referencing a recent Supreme Court decision that broadened his power to dismiss heads of independent agencies. However, election law experts note that the implications of this ruling on bipartisan entities like the EAC have yet to be tested, given that Congress intentionally designed the commission to maintain an equal partisan representation.
Other Democrats have raised concerns as well. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia stated that the dismissals “should alarm every American” and warranted an immediate explanation, while Arizona’s Democratic Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, accused the administration of creating chaos for election officials across the nation.
Established under the Help America Vote Act after the contentious 2000 election, the EAC does not conduct elections but plays a crucial role in distributing federal election security grants, maintaining the national mail voter registration form, certifying voting machines against federal standards, and advising state and local election officials. With no remaining commissioners, the agency is now unable to take any formal actions.
This situation leaves the EAC incapable of updating voting standards or the federal registration form, potentially stalling changes that the administration has sought, including a citizenship documentation requirement that has faced legal challenges. Any new appointees would require Senate confirmation, a process that could extend well beyond the midterm elections.
Hovland, one of the ousted commissioners, expressed to NBC News that the agency had served as a vital resource for financially constrained states to exchange best practices, warning that its absence could result in significant administrative errors as the midterms approach. “When you demand more from people without providing the necessary support, mistakes are inevitable,” he noted. “This feels more like a gradual erosion rather than a single glaring issue.”
Cisco Aguilar, the Democratic Secretary of State in Nevada and chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, criticized the firings as “extremely irresponsible.” He stated, “The EAC is essential for providing support to state and local election officials, and the burden will fall on secretaries of state and other election administrators to fill this void. Through actions such as cutting cybersecurity funding and initiating unfounded investigations, this pattern from the Trump administration hampers our election officials’ ability to perform their duties and does little to enhance election security.”
