US President Donald Trump has sacked the final two commissioners of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the federal agency without any serving commissioners a few months before the November 2026 midterm elections.
According to US media reports, both dismissed officials were Democratic nominees. They received emails on Thursday stating that their appointments had ended with immediate effect. The messages, sent by a White House official, informed them that the decision came on behalf of President Trump.
Earlier this year, the two Republican-appointed commissioners resigned, leaving only the Democratic members on the four-person panel. As a result, the commission now has no active leadership.
Democrats Criticise Decision
Democratic leaders strongly criticised the dismissals. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes described the move as irresponsible and dangerous. He argued that the administration was creating unnecessary uncertainty for election officials nationwide.
Meanwhile, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia said the decision should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation. He urged the administration to explain why it removed every remaining commissioner so close to the midterm elections.
The Brennan Center for Justice also expressed concern. Chief Executive Michael Waldman said Congress intentionally designed the commission as a bipartisan body with no more than two members from the same political party.
The EAC, established in 2002, certifies voting equipment and manages hundreds of millions of dollars in federal election funding. However, it needs at least three commissioners to approve official actions. The White House defended the decision, saying the president may remove officials who are not fully aligned with securing elections and ensuring every legal vote counts.
