Members of Election Assistance Commission fired by Trump

Donald Trump has fired the remaining members of the independent federal Election Assistance Commission, raising concerns about potential chaos just months before the midterm elections, reports The Guardian. The last three members of the four-person bipartisan commission were forced out on Thursday.

According to a source, the Republican member resigned on their own, while the two Democratic members were notified of their dismissal via an email from the White House personnel office.

"On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service," the email read. The White House has not yet commented on the dismissals.

The Election Assistance Commission serves as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. The organization's duties include accrediting laboratories that test voting systems and certifying election systems. The commission also manages the National Mail Voter Registration Form, which was created by the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.

The dismissals follow efforts by Trump and his administration to change mail-in voting requirements and to investigate the results of the 2020 election, which saw Trump lose to Joe Biden.

The firing of the commission members has drawn sharp criticism. "It is irresponsible and dangerous that this administration is hell-bent on creating chaos for our state's election officials," Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a statement. "This move undermines the credibility of nonpartisan election administration."

The Help America Vote Act of 2002, which created the commission, stipulates that the president has the authority to appoint replacement commissioners. However, it remains unclear how Trump plans to move forward with the commission.