Trump Administration Scrutinized Election Agency Over 2020 Vote Before Firing Its Leaders

President Trump’s administration spent more than a year examining the federal agency responsible for overseeing voting systems, questioning its handling of the 2020 election and evaluating potential replacement leaders before ultimately dismissing its commissioners last week. The previously unreported effort reflects the administration’s ongoing push to gain greater influence over how federal elections are administered.

Agency Plays Key Role Ahead of Midterms

The Election Assistance Commission, a bipartisan body responsible for testing and certifying voting systems nationwide, could become central to the administration’s broader election security push ahead of November’s midterms. Trump fired the commission’s two Democratic members last week and allowed its remaining Republican commissioner to resign, leaving the panel entirely vacant after another Republican member departed earlier this year. The White House said Trump reserves the right to remove officials not fully aligned with securing American elections.

Officials Pressed Agency Over 2020 Security Claims

Documents show that in 2025, the commission requested a briefing from intelligence officials regarding public claims about voting system vulnerabilities. Rather than providing that briefing, an intelligence official instead sent the commission several pages of questions challenging its prior conclusion that the 2020 election had been secure, along with questions about subsequent updates to voting system guidelines. Election experts note that such guideline updates typically take years to develop due to cost and logistical complexity, with the relevant process in this case having begun years before the 2020 election itself.

Potential Replacements Include Trump Allies

As scrutiny of the agency continued, the White House also began vetting possible nominees for the vacant commissioner positions, including individuals who previously worked to challenge the 2020 election results. Any nominees would require Senate confirmation before taking office. The White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding its plans for replacing the commission’s leadership.