Supreme Court approves President Trump’s dismissal of FTC commissioner
In a divided order, the Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump to fire Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter.
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President Donald Trump has fired two of the three members of the Federal Election Assistance Commission, eliminating the commission’s ability to help local election boards prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
Two committee members elected by Assembly Democrats, Chairman Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, each received their termination emails on July 9. USA TODAY has seen a copy of that email.
The committee’s vice chair, Christy McCormick, a Republican in Congress, resigned on June 9th.
“These firings leave the agency without leadership and unable to fulfill its core responsibilities,” Michael Waldman, director and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, said in a statement.
The commission’s fourth position became vacant when Republican Donald Palmer voluntarily left the commission earlier this year.
To approve any measure, the commission would need the consent of three of its four members. On the other hand, it could take months to fill a vacancy.
The White House issued a statement saying the president “reserves the right to remove individuals who may not fully agree with the important mission of securing America’s elections and ensuring that every legal vote is counted.”
State and local election officials are already complaining ahead of the midterm elections that support from some of the other federal agencies tasked with helping conduct safe and secure elections has been significantly reduced. They also said they do not expect federal agencies to reliably share election threats.
According to committee officials, committee members were concerned about the June 29 U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting President Trump broad powers over agency leaders aimed at preserving Congressional independence.
A White House official said the decision “gives the president priority” in dismissing members.
By law, commissioners must be appointed by the president with recommendations from the Republican and Democratic leadership of the U.S. House and Senate. There may not be more than two representatives of any political party on the committee at any one time. Commissioners must be confirmed by the Senate.
The commission is the only federal agency dedicated solely to election administration. The system was created by Congress after the 2000 election to allow states to improve election administration without federalizing elections. Its primarily supporting role includes distributing federal campaign funds, administering the national mail-in voter registration form, testing and certifying voting systems, and providing guidance to state and local election officials.
For example, earlier this year, commissioners approved additional security funding for election officials. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the commission worked with states to make voting by mail widely available in time for the 2020 presidential election.
This is a developing story.
