President Donald Trump, on Thursday, fired the last two federal election officials serving on the agency responsible for ensuring accurate and secure elections ahead of the US midterm polls in November, according to US media reports.
The bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is typically led by a four-member panel, but the two Republican-appointed commissioners resigned earlier this year, USA Today reported.
The remaining two commissioners, both appointed by Democratic administrations, reportedly received emails informing them of their immediate dismissal on Thursday.
“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,” an email from a White House official to one of the commissioners stated, according to CNN.
Democrats condemned the move, with senior election officials, including Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, describing it as “irresponsible and dangerous”.
“This administration remains dead set on causing chaos for our election officials across the country,” Fontes said in a press release.
US Senator Mark Warner of Virginia wrote on X that the dismissals “should concern every American regardless of party”, adding that “removing every remaining commissioner just months before the 2026 midterm elections is an extraordinary step that demands an immediate explanation from the administration”.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Brennan Center for Justice, Michael Waldman, described the dismissals as “deeply concerning in light of President Trump’s relentless efforts to try to interfere in elections”.
Waldman noted that the bipartisan structure of the four-member EAC was deliberately designed by Congress to ensure that no more than two commissioners could belong to the same political party.
Established in 2002, the EAC is responsible for certifying voting equipment and administering hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for elections, CNN reported.
Trump has previously clashed with the EAC over his executive order directing the agency to require proof of citizenship for voter registration forms, a measure that was largely blocked by the courts, CNN added.
To approve any action, the commission requires the agreement of at least three of its four commissioners. However, with all four positions now vacant, it could take months before replacements are confirmed, USA Today reported.
According to the newspaper, the White House said in a statement 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.”