The Republican leader continues to push for broader federal control over elections.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump fired Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, the two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

RELATED:

Trump Halts Trade With Spain Amid NATO Spending Rift

Their dismissal comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. president may remove members of independent federal agencies, as occurred with the dismissal of Federal Trade Commission official Rebecca Slaughter.

Trump’s move effectively dismantles the four-member commission because Republicans Christy McCormick and Don Palmer had already resigned.

“The President, as head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals who are not fully aligned with the important task of ensuring the security of American elections and making sure every legal vote is counted,” the White House said, emphasizing that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Slaughter case “gives the President the precedent to do so.”

“From the beginning, the Administration has been working with all agencies and local partners to safeguard elections against fraud and abuse, while investing in a robust infrastructure to support that mission, especially ahead of the midterm elections,” it added.

The EAC was created under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to certify voting systems and develop guidelines for state and local elections, among other responsibilities.

Since losing the 2020 election, Trump has repeatedly claimed the election was stolen from him, despite the absence of evidence supporting that allegation. He was charged by prosecutors in Georgia with election interference in a case that was dismissed in November 2025 after his return to the White House.

In the 2026 midterm elections, voters will elect all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Republicans currently control Congress, but they could lose their narrow majority if Democrats regain seats.

On Friday, Trump reiterated that he would not sign a major housing bill recently approved by Congress because of the legislative stalemate over the election reform he is promoting to give the federal government greater control over elections, which until now have been regulated by each state.

“Democracy doesn’t disappear overnight, it erodes piece by piece. SCOTUS weakens voting rights. Trump guts the bipartisan Election Assistance Commision and pushes the SAVE America Act to choke voter registration and fair elections. We cannot stay silent. We must resist,” Congresswoman Analilia Mejia posted on social networks.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

IN THIS ARTICLE