President Donald Trump has discharged the remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Committee (EAC) just a few months before the 2026 Midterm elections, effectively leaving the four-person independent bipartisan committee vacant ahead of the congressional races.
“The President, and head of the Executive Branch, 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,” a White House official said in a statement.
"The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so,” the official affirmed, referencing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that the president can remove members of independent agency boards.
The White House Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) notified two Democratic members of the committee, Chairman Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, of their termination via email.
The panel’s remaining Republican member, Vice Chair Christy McCormick, resigned.
Former Republican commissioner Donald Palmer had already left the committee at the end of Apr. 2026.
Terminations Could've Resulted From 'Voter Integrity' Measures
Although the White House statement did not specify the reason for the termination, speculation indicates that it is due to the panel’s prior refusal to reform the national voter registration form.
Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, the White House has sought to enforce stricter voting laws, including requiring proof of citizenship to vote, limiting mail-in ballots, and ordering the U.S. Postal Service to refrain from issuing mail-in ballots unless states turn in their voters’ information.
“The Administration from the start has been working across all agencies and local partners to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse, and investing in a strong infrastructure to sustain that mission, especially in the midterm elections,” the official added.
It is unclear whether President Trump will leave the panel vacant or appoint new officials, who would require Senate confirmation.
