The White House dismissed two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on July 10, 2026, following the resignation of the remaining Republican member. This action vacates the federal agency responsible for election management guidelines. President Donald Trump's decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential authority to remove independent government regulators. The dismissed commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were notified via email, according to Votebeat. Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned shortly after, while another Republican, Donald Palmer, had already left the agency earlier in the year.
Tim Lim, a Democratic strategist, criticized the firings, suggesting they undermine the integrity of upcoming elections. The EAC was established by Congress through the Help America Vote Act to provide best practices for election officials and develop specifications for voting systems. The agency has faced criticism for not advancing election security measures adequately. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the future of the EAC's independence remains uncertain, particularly regarding the president's authority to dismiss its members. The recent firings may hinder the government's ability to provide bipartisan election recommendations ahead of the midterms, according to Democratic secretaries of state.