On July 10, 2026, President Donald Trump removed all three commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Reports indicate that Democratic members Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were dismissed via email, while Republican member Christy McCormick was permitted to resign. The EAC, established by the Help America Vote Act in 2002, requires at least three commissioners to conduct official business. The fourth commissioner, Don Palmer, resigned on April 29, 2026.
The White House cited a recent Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Slaughter, asserting that the President has the authority to remove individuals not aligned with the goal of securing elections. Despite the lack of commissioners, the EAC can continue some operations, including disbursing Election Security Grants and certifying voting equipment under existing standards. The EAC's Executive Director or career staff will manage ongoing operations, but they cannot establish new programs or modify existing policies without a quorum of commissioners.
Key functions that can continue include managing election security grant funding, certifying voting systems, and maintaining the EAC's role as a national clearinghouse for election administration. However, the EAC cannot adopt new guidelines, process decertification appeals, or hire new executive leadership without a full commission.