Trump Dismisses Election Assistance Commission Leaders Post-ruling

WHO:

NY Post - Trump terminated the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

CNN - The leadership of the EAC was fired, including at least one commissioner.

CNN - Adrian Fontes, the Democratic secretary of state of Arizona, reacted to the EAC purge.

CNN - Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, condemned the firings.

WHAT:

NY Post - The terminations left the EAC with no commissioners and an uncertain future.

CNN - An email from a White House official informed at least one commissioner that their position was terminated, effective immediately.

CNN - The EAC is responsible for providing funding and security guidance to election officials and certifying voting equipment.

CNN - The EAC has administered hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support for elections.

CNN - A recent Supreme Court decision bolstered a president’s power to fire leaders of independent agencies, raising concerns in the election community.

CNN - The EAC was targeted by an executive order Trump signed in 2025, which sought to add a proof of citizenship requirement to federal voter registration forms.

WHERE:

CNN - The EAC is a federal agency created by Congress in 2002.

WHEN:

CNN - The executive order seeking to overhaul elections was signed in 2025.

WHY:

CNN - The firings raised alarm among election officials about federal interference ahead of the midterms.

CNN - Adrian Fontes stated that the administration's actions are "irresponsible and dangerous" and undermine the integrity of nonpartisan election administration.

CNN - The EAC has faced challenges in standing up for election officials who have faced threats due to conspiracy theories pushed by Trump.

HOW:

CNN - The terminations were communicated via email from a White House official.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 08:13 UTC)

President Trump has terminated all remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the agency without any commissioners and raising concerns about its future. The firings, which were communicated through an email from a White House official, have alarmed election officials who fear federal interference ahead of the upcoming midterms, with Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes calling the actions "irresponsible and dangerous." The EAC, created by Congress in 2002, plays a crucial role in providing funding and security guidance to election officials, and has been under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court decision that strengthened a president's authority to dismiss leaders of independent agencies.