The essentials
Trump administration removes EAC members, citing Supreme Court removal authority; commission now non-functional.
The Trump administration has fired the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the bipartisan body unable to function without a quorum. The administration justified the removals under the Supreme Court's Slaughter decision, which addressed presidential removal authority over federal commissioners.
The EAC was established to set voting standards and fund election infrastructure upgrades across states. With its membership depleted, the commission cannot conduct official business or fulfill its statutory mandate. The removals reflect a broader assertion of executive power over independent agencies, though the legal basis for removing commissioners from this particular body remains contested.
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Administration asserts removal power over independent commission
The Trump administration grounded its removals in the Supreme Court's Slaughter decision, establishing that presidents possess broad removal authority over federal officials. Under this interpretation, the EAC members serve at presidential pleasure, and their removal reflects legitimate executive prerogative over independent agencies.
Election commission loses quorum, halts voting standards work
With its membership removed, the Election Assistance Commission cannot meet its statutory requirements or function as a quorum-dependent body. The commission's role in setting voting standards and distributing election upgrade funding is now suspended, affecting state-level electoral infrastructure.