White House explored bypassing election agency before ousting leaders

The White House spent months investigating ways to circumvent a federal election agency and leverage emergency powers to mandate changes in voting machines, according to four individuals familiar with the matter. This exploration occurred before President Donald Trump removed the agency's leaders on Thursday.

Sources indicated that some officials were frustrated by the Election Assistance Commission's perceived slowness in updating guidelines for states regarding voting machines. Additionally, there was a desire to implement a proof-of-citizenship requirement for the national mail voter registration form and address other election-related priorities of the administration.

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The administration from the start has been working across all agencies and local partners to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse, and investing in a strong infrastructure to sustain that mission especially in the midterm elections.

Democratic lawmakers condemned the firings, viewing them as a "brazen attempt to seize control of our elections" before the November midterm elections. They argued that these actions undermine election integrity, especially given that U.S. elections are primarily managed at the state level.

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The president reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections.

Trump dismissed the agency's two Democratic commissioners and accepted the resignation of its sole Republican commissioner. The agency's fourth commissioner had already departed in April. It remains unclear why Trump chose this timing for the dismissals or if replacements will be appointed. Without a quorum, the agency cannot approve new business, including changes to voting procedures or registration forms, although it remains operational.

The White House stated that the administration has been working across agencies to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse, particularly in preparation for the midterms. Trump and his allies have advocated for nationwide voting changes, with Trump continuing to make unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election being stolen. The White House cited a Supreme Court decision granting the president more power to remove members of independent agencies as justification for the firings.

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He is gutting the independent agency that certifies voting systems and helps election officials run secure elections.