Trump terminates remaining members of Election Assistance Commission after landmark Supreme Court ruling expanded his powers

Trump terminates remaining members of Election Assistance Commission after landmark Supreme Court ruling expanded his powers. President Trump on Thursday terminated the remaining members of a federal panel that assists election administration officials nationwide after a landmark Supreme Court ruling granted him more power to fire members of independent agencies. Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick, who were appointed to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) by former President Barack Obama, were fired via email, according to Reuters. Benjamin Hovland, appointed by Trump in his first term, was forced to resign. A fourth commissioner at the agency, a Trump appointee, departed in April. The terminations leave the bipartisan EAC with no commissioners and an uncertain future. "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," read the emails sent out by the White House Presidential Personnel Office. In a 6-3 ruling, the high court found Trump acted lawfully when he fired former Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter last year. In a social media post, Trump deemed the ruling "the Greatest Increase in Presidential Power in the last 100 years," adding, "Such a Monumental Ruling at such an important time!" Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) argued Trump's removal of the remaining EAC members should "concern" Americans, writing that removing every remaining commissioner just months before the 2026 midterm elections "should concern every American, regardless of party." A White House official confirmed the firings and told Reuters that Trump "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."