US President Donald Trump has dismissed the last two federal officials overseeing an agency responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the voting process, ahead of midterm elections scheduled for November.
USA Today reported that the Election Assistance Commission, which includes members from both major parties, is normally run by a board of four commissioners. However, the two commissioners nominated by the Republican Party had already resigned earlier this year.
The newspaper noted that the two dismissed commissioners had been appointed by the Democrats before receiving an email informing them of their dismissal on Thursday.
CNN obtained the text of the letter sent by a White House official to one of the dismissed commissioners, which read: "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you of the termination of your service as a commissioner on the Election Assistance Commission, effective immediately."
Democrats condemned the move, with Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes describing it as irresponsible and dangerous.
Virginia Senator Mark Warner wrote on X that these dismissals should concern every American regardless of party affiliation, adding that firing all remaining commissioners just a few months before the midterm elections was an extraordinary step that demands an immediate explanation from the administration.
Michael Waldman, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, described the dismissals as alarming.
CNN reported that the Election Assistance Commission was established in 2002 and is responsible for certifying voting equipment and administering hundreds of millions of dollars in federal election funding.
The network also noted that Trump had clashed with the commission over his executive order requiring proof of citizenship to be added to voter registration forms, a requirement that has faced widespread legal challenges.
USA Today reported that the commission requires the approval of three of its four commissioners for any action, and that filling the vacancies could take months.
According to the newspaper, the White House stated that the president retains the right to remove individuals who may not be fully aligned with the important work of securing American elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.