The White House removed all three sitting members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Thursday, leaving the federal agency without a quorum just months before the November midterm elections.

According to individuals familiar with the decision and a White House official, Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were dismissed by email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, while Republican Commissioner Christy McCormick was asked to resign. The White House confirmed all three commissioners would be replaced.

The termination notices informed the commissioners that their appointments were ending effective immediately. Hovland later said he learned of his dismissal while returning from an official visit to a Missouri election office.

Commission Left Without Leadership

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent federal agency created to help states administer elections. The commission is structured as a bipartisan four-member panel, with commissioners confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Its fourth seat had already become vacant earlier this year following the resignation of Republican Commissioner Donald Palmer.

With all remaining commissioners now gone, the agency currently lacks the quorum required to conduct official business until new nominees are confirmed by the Senate.

Election Operations Could Be Affected

The EAC oversees several key election-related responsibilities, including accrediting laboratories that test voting equipment, certifying voting systems used by state and local governments, administering federal election grants and maintaining the national voter registration form.

Without commissioners in place, approvals for voting equipment and other agency actions may be delayed until a new commission is confirmed.

Election officials and manufacturers of voting equipment are now watching closely to determine how quickly replacements can be nominated and approved.

Supreme Court Decision Changed the Landscape

The dismissals follow the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter, issued in late June, which held that the president has broader authority to remove officials serving at certain independent federal agencies.

The administration cited that ruling in defending Thursday’s actions.

Political Debate Intensifies

The removals come amid continued debate over federal election policy.

Following Congress’s failure to approve the SAVE America Act, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the commission to pursue additional voter registration and election administration changes, including proof-of-citizenship requirements and updated voting system standards.

With no commissioners currently serving, questions remain about how those initiatives will proceed until the agency is reconstituted.

The decision immediately drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and several state election officials, who argued the timing creates uncertainty ahead of the November elections. Supporters of the administration contend the president has the constitutional authority to appoint leadership that reflects his policy priorities.

Business and Government Impact

Beyond election administration, the leadership vacuum also affects companies that manufacture and certify voting equipment, along with state and local governments that rely on federal certification standards and grant funding.

Until new commissioners receive Senate confirmation, the agency’s ability to approve voting systems and carry out certain statutory responsibilities remains limited, shifting greater responsibility to state election officials during one of the busiest election cycles of the year.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
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