President Donald Trump terminated the remaining members of the independent federal Election Assistance Commission on Thursday.
The forced departures removed the final active commissioners on the bipartisan board.
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The agency serves to support states in administering elections and securing ballot counts.
Trump dissolved the positions of Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, both selected by congressional Democrats.
The sole remaining Republican member, Christy McCormick, resigned.
Criticism and Defense
Michael Waldman of the New York University School of Law criticized the abrupt restructuring of the agency.
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“These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities,” Waldman said.
An unidentified White House official defended the administration's decision, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential authority over independent regulatory bodies.
The official said Trump reserved the right to remove individuals who do not fit the administration's security strategy.
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The dismissals align with a broader federal strategy to safeguard voting systems against fraud and abuse, the official added.
