The White House on Thursday fired the leadership of the federal agency that provides funding and security guidance to election officials, according to sources familiar with the matter and an email reviewed by CNN — a move that’s already raising alarm bells among election officials about federal interference ahead of the midterms.
“On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately,” said an email from a White House official that went to at least one of the fired EAC commissioners. “Thank you for your service.”
CNN has requested comment from the White House and from the EAC.
With the Trump administration having gutted the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the EAC is one of the few remaining federal entities tasked with providing election security support to states. Created by Congress in 2002, the agency is meant to be bipartisan. It certifies voting equipment and has administered hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support for elections.
The EAC has also been in the awkward position of trying not to draw the president’s ire while also standing up for election officials who have faced violent threats because of conspiracy theories pushed by the president. Some election officials feel the agency has fallen short on the latter.
