Trump Administration Reviewed Election Agency Before Commissioner Firings

A screen displays President Donald Trump during an address on election security as the administration reviews the leadership of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

 Trump Administration Reviewed Election Agency Before Leadership Shake-Up

WASHINGTON — July 17, 2026

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump spent more than a year reviewing the work of the federal agency responsible for supporting election administration before removing its commissioners last week, according to documents and people familiar with the matter.

The review focused on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent bipartisan agency that develops voluntary voting system standards, certifies voting equipment and provides guidance to states on election administration. Officials examined the agency's handling of the 2020 presidential election and also assessed potential candidates to replace its leadership.

Last week, Trump dismissed the commission's two Democratic members, while its only remaining Republican commissioner stepped down. Another Republican commissioner had already left the agency earlier this year, leaving all four seats vacant. Any new commissioners nominated by the president must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The White House previously said the president has the authority to remove officials who are not aligned with his election security priorities. However, it did not respond to questions about the documents or its plans for appointing new commissioners.

According to correspondence reviewed by the news agency, the commission sought a briefing in 2025 from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding public claims that U.S. voting systems were vulnerable to manipulation. Instead of a briefing, an intelligence official sent a series of questions challenging the commission's statements that the 2020 election had been secure and asking about updates to voting system guidelines introduced after that election.

Election specialists noted that changes to voting system standards typically take years because they require technical reviews, public consultation and implementation by state election authorities. Commission records show work on the updated guidelines began in 2015.

As the administration evaluated the agency, it also considered possible nominees for future commissioner positions. People familiar with the discussions said several individuals associated with Trump's election policies were among those considered for the roles.

The developments come as the administration seeks changes to election administration ahead of the November midterm elections. Republicans say the proposed measures are intended to strengthen election security, while Democrats argue they could make voting more difficult. The commission's future leadership is expected to play an important role in how federal election policies develop in the coming months.