
President Trump fired the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission just months before the 2026 midterms, leaving the agency unable to act. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "brazen attempt to seize control" of elections, and vowed Democrats would fight back but was vague on how they could or would.
The EAC was created by Congress after the disputed 2000 election to help states run elections fairly. It certifies voting machines, manages federal registration forms, and distributes security grants. It was designed as a bipartisan, independent body — with an even split between Democratic and Republican commissioners. Schumer's retractors have pointed out his lack of action on a number of Trump's policy moves and his continued support for Israel, even as the rift over spending billions in U.S. military aid grows bigger by the day.