Trump ousts EAC commissioners—what changes before the 2026 midterms

On Friday, the White House confirmed President Trump dismissed the remaining Election Assistance Commission (EAC) commissioners, leaving the federal agency without sitting leadership as the 2026 midterms approach. The move raises near-term questions about how EAC functions—especially election-equipment testing/certification support and federal election grant administration—operate during a commissioner vacancy.

Who was dismissed, who resigned, and why the EAC is now leaderless

AP reports that Trump removed the two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland. AP also reports that the panel’s Republican member, Christy McCormick, resigned, and that former Republican commissioner Donald Palmer had already left his post earlier this year.

KPBS similarly reports that Palmer had departed earlier, leaving Hicks and Hovland as the remaining Democratic commissioners and McCormick as the remaining Republican commissioner before Trump dismissed and/or the seat became vacant through McCormick’s resignation.

Under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the EAC is governed by commissioners nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, with a party-balance requirement (no more than two commissioners from the same political party).

What the EAC does that can affect election administration

The EAC does not run balloting in states—that’s done by election officials under state law. But EAC’s federally linked role can still matter to voters, election workers, and vendors that test and certify equipment.

In plain terms, the EAC supports elections in three ways:

• Federal election support funding: Under HAVA, the EAC administers grant programs and provides formula funding to states and territories for election administration improvements. ([eac.gov](Eac))
• Election technology testing and certification support: The EAC runs federal voting-system testing and certification and also supports evaluation of other election technologies through its technology programs. ([eac.gov](Eac))
• National Mail Voter Registration Form: The EAC maintains and provides the National Mail Voter Registration Form that states can use for voter registration and related updates. ([eac.gov](Eac))

What could change first—and what likely continues (but is uncertain)

With commissioners gone, the immediate, reader-relevant issue is continuity versus commissioner-level approvals. Even if EAC staff continue day-to-day work, the practical question before the midterms is whether any specific steps tied to grants, published materials, or technology processes require commissioner action to proceed or to be formally approved.

What’s clear from the reporting is the leadership gap. What’s still unclear is whether any near-term EAC outputs or decisions will be delayed, reshaped, or handled through interim processes while no commissioners are serving.

The Supreme Court backdrop that sets up more legal fights

The firings land after the Supreme Court’s Trump v. Slaughter decision, issued June 29, 2026, which held that the President may remove his subordinates at will—undercutting longstanding for-cause removal protections for certain independent agency officials.

That legal shift is part of why the EAC commissioner dismissals could become a new focal point for future court fights about removal authority and what remedies might apply if a vacancy affects commission-level actions.

What to watch next before November

Before the 2026 midterms, watch for:

• Whether Trump nominates replacement commissioners and whether the Senate confirms them quickly enough to fill the leadership gap.
• Whether the EAC posts interim operational updates about technology/certification and grant-related workflows while commissioners are absent.
• Whether lawsuits seek court clarification on what actions (if any) require commissioner votes, and what happens if those decisions can’t be approved during the vacancy.

Sources

• Associated Press (AP) on the EAC dismissals and what the agency does
• KPBS Public Media on the commissioner vacancy timeline and context
• U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Commissioners and HAVA structure
• U.S. Supreme Court — Trump v. Slaughter (June 29, 2026)