Trump Removes Remaining Election Assistance Commission Members
8 verified4 unconfirmed
President Donald Trump removed the remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on Thursday night, July 9, 2026, leaving the agency without any commissioners. The White House justified the dismissals by citing a recent Supreme Court decision—Trump v. Slaughter—that granted the president greater authority to remove officials from independent federal agencies. Two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were fired, while Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned. The EAC, created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, certifies voting systems and oversees federal election administration guidelines but does not directly run elections. The firings drew immediate criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who accused Trump of undermining election integrity ahead of the midterm elections. Any replacements for the removed commissioners would require presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
What’s verified
President Trump removed the remaining three members of the Election Assistance Commission on July 9, 2026.
Two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were fired; Republican commissioner Christy McCormick resigned.
The White House cited the recent Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Slaughter as legal authority for the removals.
The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to assist states with election administration.
The commission had four members; one Republican, Donald Palmer, had already left the agency in April.
Democratic Senators and Representatives, including Alex Padilla and Joe Morelle, criticized the dismissals as politically motivated.
Replacements for the removed commissioners must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Trump previously issued an executive order in 2025 seeking to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form, which was blocked by courts.
Not yet confirmed
Only one source reported the exact wording of the termination email sent to the Democratic commissioners and that it came from the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
Only one source reported that the White House told NBC News all EAC members “will be replaced.”
Only one source reported Trump’s Truth Social post linking the SAVE America Act’s non-passage to his refusal to sign a bipartisan housing bill.
None of the sources specify when replacements for the removed commissioners might be nominated or confirmed.
Key figures
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Thomas Hicks, Democratic EAC commissioner (fired)
Benjamin Hovland, Democratic EAC commissioner (fired)
Christy McCormick, Republican EAC commissioner (resigned)
Donald Palmer, former Republican EAC commissioner (departed earlier in 2026)
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator from California (Democrat)
Joe Morelle, U.S. Representative from New York (Democrat)
Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice
Matt Weil, vice president of governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center
Sources: NPR, newrepublic.com, rollcall.com
