Trump undermines election oversight by firing FEC commissioner Ellen Weintraub

In early February, Ellen Weintraub was removed from her position as a commissioner of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by President Donald Trump, who hasn't appointed a replacement. Weintraub argued that her termination exemplifies potential interference by the president in the operations of the FEC, which is tasked with overseeing campaign finance and elections. Following her dismissal, she filed a brief claiming that the executive order issued by Trump, Executive Order 14215, could enable him to influence the FEC's regulatory decisions in favor of his administration. This concern was echoed by liberal groups, including the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who claimed Trump’s executive order would jeopardize the agency's independence. They alleged that the order grants broad authority to the president over independent agencies, undermining their bipartisan function. The executive order mandates that independent agencies, including the FEC, submit significant regulatory proposals to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. Trump stated that the order aims to ensure greater accountability of agencies to the public through presidential oversight, intending to tackle voter registration and integrity issues. The controversy also heightened when a coalition of left-leaning organizations, including the Brennan Center and the American Civil Liberties Union, urged the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to resist implementing some of the specific directives outlined in Trump’s executive order. They argue that the actions specified in the order breach the independent status of the Commission and could lead to unconstitutional practices, emphasizing that Congress intended for the Commission to operate autonomously from presidential directives. Advocates against the executive order assert that it infringes upon the rights of states to regulate their own election processes, specifically regarding mail-in ballot policies. They noted that various states already allow ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day, challenging the legality of the new requirements specified by the administration. Ultimately, this tension around the FEC and the Executive Order highlights an ongoing debate about the extent of presidential control over independent agencies and the fundamental principles of how elections should be managed in the United States.