White House Confirms Trump Removed Two Election Assistance Commission Members

The White House confirmed on the 10th that U.S. President Donald Trump removed two sitting members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, leaving all four seats on the commission vacant. According to Odaily, earlier reports said Trump removed Democratic members Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland on the 9th and accepted the resignation of Republican member Christy McCormick. Another Republican member, Donald Palmer, left earlier this year. In a statement on the 10th, the White House said the president retains the right to dismiss officials who may not be fully committed to safeguarding U.S. election security and ensuring every lawful ballot is counted. The statement did not provide a specific reason for the removals. U.S. media reported that the commission had previously rejected an executive order signed by Trump that would have required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering on a national voter registration form.