President Donald Trump removes the remaining members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission in a new effort to reshape parts of the U.S. voting administration, according to multiple outlets. The White House confirms the executive action, saying the move is intended to strengthen election security. The commission plays a role in distributing federal grants to states for election-related purposes, oversees or coordinates testing of voting systems, and maintains the national voter registration form.
The dismissals affect the commission’s leadership and create vacancies, with critics arguing the decision is politicizing election administration. On Capitol Hill, leading Democrats who oversee elections-related issues say the action further undermines the independence of election oversight bodies. Other reporting also notes the commission is described as bipartisan, and that responses to the dismissals split along partisan lines, with supporters framing it as a security measure and opponents calling it a partisan step.
The outlets report the removals take place as part of a broader push connected to changing the voting process ahead of upcoming elections.
