Trump Disbands Election Commission, Leaving Future Uncertain

WHO:

Alternet - The email notifying Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland of their termination was signed by Morgan DeWitt Snow, deputy director of presidential personnel in the Executive Office of the President.

ProPublica - Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state and chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, stated, “The EAC plays a critical role in supporting state and local election officials,” emphasizing the gap left by the commission's dismantling.

Alternet - President Donald Trump fired all three remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission: Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland, and Christy McCormick.

ProPublica - Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state and chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, expressed concern over the commission's dismantling.

WHAT:

ProPublica - The commission's unprecedented dismantling has left it unable to take official action until new members are installed, which could impact the Trump administration's ability to alter the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards before the 2026 midterms.

AP News - The commission has previously declined to change the national voter registration form to require documentation of an applicant’s U.S. citizenship, as Trump urged in a sweeping March 2025 executive order on U.S. elections.

AP News - The commission's dismantling is described as unprecedented, leaving it unable to take official action until new members are installed.

AP News - The commission was created as part of the Help America Vote Act, a bipartisan law signed by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002.

AP News - The commission's members are nominated by the president at the recommendation of congressional leadership and confirmed by the Senate, with a requirement that no more than two can come from the same party.

AP News - The commission's members are nominated by the president at the recommendation of

Alternet - The email notifying Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland of their termination stated, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service.”

AP News - The commission was created as part of the Help America Vote Act, a bipartisan law signed by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002.

ProPublica - The commission was created by Congress after the 2000 election to help states improve election administration without federalizing elections.

ProPublica - The commission has been plagued by partisan infighting and ineffectiveness, as well as chronic vacancies and a lack of funding.

ProPublica - The commission's decisions were often unanimous despite its partisan split.

ProPublica - The Help America Vote Act requires the commission to include two Democrats and two Republicans, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

AP News - The White House confirmed the executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, stating that the president "reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted."

AP News - The commission was established in 2003 to set standards for state voting systems and provide funding for upgrades.

AP News - The commission's two Democratic members, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were removed, and the panel’s Republican member, Christy McCormick, resigned.

Alternet - The firings of the EAC commissioners leave the commission unable to take official action until new members are installed, which could impact the Trump administration's ability to alter the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards before the 2026 midterms.

ProPublica - The EAC oversees the federal testing and certification program for voting systems, which includes accrediting labs and certifying whether machines meet federal standards known as the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines.

ProPublica - The commission's unprecedented dismantling alarmed voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials, who called the move “reckless and irresponsible.”

Alternet - The firings leave the four-member commission with no commissioners, meaning it cannot take official action until new members are installed.

ProPublica - The fourth commissioner, Republican Donald Palmer, voluntarily departed the agency earlier this year to join the Heritage Foundation.

ProPublica - The EAC has been without a quorum before, contributing to long delays in updating voting-system guidance.

ProPublica - The EAC cannot act, which could stall attempts by the Trump administration to alter the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards before the 2026 midterms.

Alternet - Trump terminated the positions of the two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, effective immediately, and allowed Republican Christy McCormick to resign.

ProPublica - The commission was established in 2003 to set standards for state voting systems and provide funding for upgrades.

ProPublica - The commission's four-member board is designed to be evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

WHERE:

Alternet - The U.S. Election Assistance Commission is a federal agency.

WHEN:

ProPublica - In March 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing the EAC to change the national voter registration form to require proof of U.S. citizenship.

WHY:

AP News - Critics, including Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Joe Morelle, accused Trump of further politicizing the voting process and dismantling independent guardrails designed to keep elections fair and secure.

ProPublica - A White House official stated that the president “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.”

ProPublica - Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, stated, “The EAC plays a critical role in supporting state and local election officials,” emphasizing the gap left by the commission's dismantling.

ProPublica - Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, stated, “The EAC plays a critical role in supporting state and local election officials,” highlighting the gap left by the commission's dismantling.

ProPublica - The commission's unprecedented dismantling alarmed voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials, who called the move “reckless and irresponsible.”

Alternet - The firings occurred after the Supreme Court granted the president power to fire leaders of independent agencies, weakening the legal framework that had previously insulated bipartisan federal commissions from direct White House control.

HOW:

ProPublica - The Help America Vote Act states that the president is supposed to consider recommendations from the Senate and House majority and minority leaders when nominating new EAC commissioners, but this is more of a custom than a statutory requirement.

ProPublica - The commission's members are nominated by the president at the recommendation of congressional leadership and confirmed by the Senate, with a requirement that no more than two can come from the same party.

Alternet - The Help America Vote Act states that the president is supposed to consider recommendations from the Senate and House majority and minority leaders when nominating new EAC commissioners, but this is more of a custom than a statutory requirement.

ProPublica - The Help America Vote Act states that the president is supposed to consider recommendations from the Senate and House majority and minority leaders when nominating new EAC commissioners.

Alternet - The terminations were communicated via email from Morgan DeWitt Snow, deputy director of presidential personnel in the Executive Office of the President.

ProPublica - The commission's members are nominated by the president at the recommendation of congressional leadership and confirmed by the Senate.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 11:18 UTC)

The dismantling of the Election Assistance Commission has left it unable to take official action until new members are appointed, which could hinder Trump’s administration from making changes to the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards ahead of the 2026 midterms. Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, highlighted the critical role the commission plays in supporting state and local election officials, emphasizing the gap created by its dismantling. Critics, including Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Joe Morelle, have accused Trump of politicizing the voting process and undermining independent safeguards meant to ensure fair and secure elections.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 07:37 UTC)

The dismantling of the commission, created under the Help America Vote Act signed by President George W. Bush in 2002, is being described as unprecedented, leaving it unable to take official action until new members are appointed. Previously, the commission declined to change the national voter registration form to require documentation of U.S. citizenship, despite President Trump's call for such a change in a sweeping executive order on U.S. elections issued in March 2025. The commission's members are nominated by the president based on recommendations from congressional leadership and confirmed by the Senate, with a stipulation that no more than two members can come from the same political party.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 22:20 UTC)

President Trump has terminated Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland from their positions as Commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission, effective immediately, according to an email notification. The dismantling of the commission has created a significant gap, leaving it unable to take official action until new members are appointed, which could affect the administration's plans for the 2026 midterms. Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, highlighted the critical role the EAC plays in supporting state and local election officials, noting that while the president is expected to consider recommendations from congressional leaders when nominating new commissioners, this is more of a custom than a legal requirement.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 17:32 UTC)

In a significant development, President Trump has officially terminated Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland from their positions, with the notification signed by Morgan DeWitt Snow, the deputy director of presidential personnel in the Executive Office of the President. The commission they were part of, established by Congress after the 2000 election to enhance election administration, has faced ongoing challenges, including partisan infighting and a lack of funding, despite often reaching unanimous decisions. Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, emphasized the importance of the commission, stating that it plays a critical role in supporting state and local election officials, highlighting the impact of its dismantling.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 16:41 UTC)

The White House has confirmed that President Trump has taken executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, emphasizing his right to remove individuals not fully aligned with securing elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. This follows the removal of the commission's two Democratic members, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, while Republican member Christy McCormick resigned, amid criticisms from lawmakers like Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Joe Morelle, who argue that Trump is politicizing the voting process. Established in 2003 to set standards for state voting systems, the commission has previously resisted changes to the national voter registration form that would require documentation of U.S. citizenship, as Trump requested in a March 2025 executive order.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 14:50 UTC)

The recent firings of the EAC commissioners have left the commission unable to take official action, which could hinder Trump's administration from making changes to the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards ahead of the 2026 midterms. Voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials have expressed alarm over the unprecedented dismantling of the commission, labeling it as "reckless and irresponsible," while Nevada’s secretary of state, Cisco Aguilar, emphasized the critical role the EAC plays in supporting state and local election officials. Although the Help America Vote Act suggests that the president should consider recommendations from Senate and House leaders when nominating new commissioners, this practice is more of a custom than a legal requirement.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 13:38 UTC)

The recent firings of the EAC commissioners have left the commission unable to take official action, which could hinder Trump's administration from making changes to the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards ahead of the 2026 midterms. Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, emphasized the importance of the EAC, stating that it plays a critical role in supporting state and local election officials, underscoring the significant gap created by the commission's dismantling. While the Help America Vote Act suggests that the president should consider recommendations from Senate and House leaders when nominating new EAC commissioners, this is more of a custom than a legal requirement.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 12:46 UTC)

The Election Assistance Commission is now left without any commissioners, which means it cannot take official action until new members are appointed, a situation that has raised concerns among voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials who describe the dismantling as “reckless and irresponsible.” This comes after Republican Donald Palmer voluntarily left the agency earlier this year to join the Heritage Foundation, leaving the commission unable to act, potentially stalling the Trump administration's efforts to change the federal voter registration form or voting-system standards ahead of the 2026 midterms. According to the Help America Vote Act, the president must consider recommendations from both Senate and House leaders when nominating new commissioners, a process that is now crucial for restoring the commission's functionality.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 11:53 UTC)

President Trump has fired all three remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, including two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, while allowing Republican Christy McCormick to resign. Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state, has voiced concerns over the dismantling of the commission, which was established in 2003 to set standards for state voting systems and provide funding for upgrades. The terminations were communicated via email from a deputy director in the Executive Office of the President, following a Supreme Court decision that granted Trump increased authority over independent agencies.