Trump Removes Election Commission Members Ahead of Midterms
President Donald Trump has removed the last three members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), creating uncertainty within the bipartisan agency as efforts accelerate to change election processes before the midterms. According to sources reported by ProPublica, Democrats Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks were dismissed, while Republican Christy McCormick opted to resign.
Voter advocacy groups and Democratic state election officials criticized the move as ‘reckless and irresponsible.’ Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state and chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, emphasized the critical role the EAC plays in supporting local election officials, noting that its absence will place additional burdens on Secretaries of State and election administrators.
The White House did not confirm the actions but stated that the president holds the authority to remove individuals not fully aligned with securing U.S. elections. The administration aims to prevent fraud and abuse while enhancing election infrastructure, especially during midterms.
Benjamin Hovland, who served as a commissioner since 2019, expressed pride in the agency’s work, citing new resources like social media templates and training tools for election workers. He received notice of his dismissal while visiting a Missouri election office to observe new safety measures for election workers.
Established in 2003, the EAC’s role includes setting standards for state voting systems and providing funding for improvements. Its four-member board, meant to be equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, requires presidential nominations based on congressional recommendations, subject to Senate confirmation.
With Don Palmer, another Republican commissioner, resigning in April, Trump potentially seeks replacements more amenable to his directives. In March 2025, Trump issued an executive order demanding changes to the national voter registration form to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Though the current practice allows voters to attest to citizenship, proof is not mandated. The change was petitioned by the America First Legal organization, but the EAC had not voted on it despite receiving extensive public commentary.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, which promotes election-related efforts, described the commissioners’ departure as a ‘significant loss’ given the EAC’s unique design for bipartisan governance. The commission, despite past challenges with partisanship and funding, achieved progress in updating voting machine standards and assisting election officials through new resources and recommendations.