What Happened to Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Commissioner Dismissals (Pre-Midterms)?
Just months before the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump dismissed all remaining commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on July 10, 2026, following the earlier resignation of Commissioner Donald Palmer. This action leaves the critical federal agency, responsible for supporting state election administration, without leadership and unable to function. The dismissals leverage a recent Supreme Court ruling expanding presidential removal powers and align with Trump's efforts to reshape federal voting rules.
Quick Answer
On July 10, 2026, President Donald Trump dismissed the remaining three commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) – Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland, and Christy McCormick – effectively paralyzing the agency months before the 2026 midterm elections. This move followed the earlier resignation of Commissioner Donald Palmer in April 2026. The dismissals, enabled by a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential removal powers, leave the EAC without a quorum, halting its ability to certify voting systems, distribute federal funds, and provide guidance to states, raising significant concerns about election administration and security.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Christy McCormick and Thomas Hicks Confirmed
Christy McCormick (Republican) and Thomas Hicks (Democrat) were unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as EAC Commissioners, nominated by President Barack Obama.
Donald Palmer and Benjamin Hovland Confirmed
Donald Palmer (Republican) and Benjamin Hovland (Democrat) were unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as EAC Commissioners, nominated by President Donald Trump, restoring a full quorum to the agency for the first time in years.
All Commissioners Serving on Expired Terms
By 2021, all four EAC commissioners were serving on expired terms, though HAVA allows them to remain until successors are appointed and confirmed.
EAC Adopts VVSG 2.0
The EAC Commissioners unanimously adopted the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.0, a new set of specifications for voting equipment aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and auditability.
VVSG 2.0 Compliance Becomes Mandatory for New Certifications
The EAC began requiring compliance with VVSG 2.0 for any new voting system certifications, deprecating older standards and marking a significant update to election technology guidelines.
President Trump Issues Executive Order on Election Integrity
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14248, 'Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,' which directed the EAC to implement several changes, including a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration.
Provision of Trump's Executive Order Blocked by Injunction
A permanent injunction was issued, blocking a provision of President Trump's 2025 executive order that impacted the EAC's directives.
Thomas Hicks Assumes EAC Chairmanship
Commissioner Thomas Hicks began his year-long term as Chairman of the EAC, with Commissioner Christy McCormick serving as Vice Chair, continuing to serve alongside Commissioners Ben Hovland and Donald Palmer.
Lawsuit Filed Against EAC Over Election Denier Ties
A lawsuit was filed against the EAC by Democracy Forward, seeking records on the agency's communications with anti-voting and election denial figures, raising concerns about impartiality. Commissioner Christy McCormick faced scrutiny for promoting a conspiracy theory.
Commissioner Donald Palmer Resigns
Republican Commissioner Donald Palmer announced his resignation from the EAC, effective April 30, 2026, to join the Heritage Foundation. His departure marked the first major leadership shakeup in seven years.
EAC Operates with Three Commissioners, Concerns Raised
Following Palmer's resignation, the EAC continued to operate with three commissioners, but concerns were raised by election officials and analysts about the agency's full expertise and representation, particularly regarding cybersecurity, ahead of the 2026 midterms.
House Subcommittee Reviews EAC Election Security
The House Administration Committee's Subcommittee on Elections convened a hearing focused on election security, effectively serving as an internal review of the EAC's operations and leadership.
Supreme Court Ruling Expands Presidential Removal Powers
The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that significantly expanded the President's authority to fire officials at independent federal agencies, providing a legal precedent for subsequent executive actions.
President Trump Dismisses All Remaining EAC Commissioners
President Donald Trump dismissed the remaining three EAC Commissioners—Thomas Hicks, Benjamin Hovland, and Christy McCormick—leaving the agency without any leadership and unable to function just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC), established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, has historically faced challenges with maintaining a full complement of commissioners and achieving quorum, often impacting its ability to fulfill its mandate. However, the events leading up to and culminating on July 10, 2026, represent an unprecedented direct intervention into the agency's leadership.
Leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, the EAC had been operating with four commissioners, though all were serving on expired terms since 2021. In February 2026, Commissioner Thomas Hicks assumed the chairmanship, with Christy McCormick as Vice Chair, alongside Commissioners Ben Hovland and Donald Palmer. However, the stability began to unravel with the resignation of Republican Commissioner Donald Palmer, announced on April 29, 2026, and effective April 30, 2026. Palmer, a Trump appointee, departed to join the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. His departure left the EAC with three commissioners, still able to operate but raising concerns about full expertise and representation, particularly regarding cybersecurity, as highlighted in May 2026.
A key turning point enabling the subsequent dismissals was a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June 2026, which significantly expanded the President's authority to remove officials from independent federal agencies. This ruling provided the legal framework for President Trump's decisive action. On July 10, 2026, President Trump dismissed the remaining three commissioners: Democrats Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, and Republican Christy McCormick. Hicks and Hovland were notified via email, while McCormick was reportedly allowed to resign.
The dismissals are widely seen as part of President Trump's broader efforts to assert control over U.S. elections and reshape federal voting rules. In March 2025, he had issued an executive order directing the EAC to implement changes such as a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration and modifications to voting system standards, an order that faced legal challenges and a partial injunction. Critics, including the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, denounced the dismissals as 'incredibly irresponsible,' warning of the detrimental impact on state and local election officials.
As of July 10, 2026, the immediate consequence is that the EAC is left without any commissioners, rendering it unable to take official action. This effectively freezes the agency's critical functions, including the federal testing and certification program for voting systems, the distribution of federal election funds, and its role as a clearinghouse for election administration information, just months before the 2026 midterm elections. The Help America Vote Act requires presidential nominations based on recommendations from congressional leadership, meaning new appointments would still require Senate confirmation, a process that could be lengthy and contentious.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Commissioner Dismissals (Pre-Midterms) made different choices?