In 2020, President Donald Trump removed two Democratic members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a bipartisan agency that helps states administer elections. The commissioners, Matthew Masterson and Christy McCormick, were dismissed via letters from the White House, according to contemporaneous news reports.
The EAC, established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, typically has four commissioners—two from each party. The removals reduced the commission to two Republican members, raising concerns about its ability to function impartially during the 2020 presidential election.
Critics argued the dismissals were politically motivated, as Masterson and McCormick had been critical of unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. The Trump administration defended the moves as part of a broader effort to ensure election integrity.
As of 2026, the EAC continues to operate with a full bipartisan board, following subsequent appointments by President Joe Biden. The incident remains a notable example of executive intervention in an independent agency.
