President Trump cleans house at the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission
President Trump has dismissed the remaining members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission, citing a need for alignment with his administration's goals. This move follows a Supreme Court ruling that grants the president broader authority to remove officials from independent federal agencies.
Why it matters
The decision raises significant concerns regarding the independence of federal election oversight bodies and the potential for political influence on election administration.
With just months until the midterms, President Trump relieved the remaining members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a move that drew swift condemnation from Democrats and voting rights advocates.
An association of state election officials sent word out to its members on Thursday about Trump's dismissals, and in a statement a White House official said 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. The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so."
In the Slaughter case , the U.S. Supreme Court late last month ruled that a president has a freer hand to remove members of independent federal agencies.
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